Data on big cat sightings in 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028275

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. In relation to the 2022 calendar year, on how many occasions were the police informed that there had been a sighting of a ‘big cat’, i.e. a wild cat, which was significantly larger than a domestic cat and was thought could have been a panther, lynx, cougar or other large species of the cat family?

Could you please state how many of the sightings were confirmed to be
(a) false,
(b) true or
(c) unable to be confirmed one way or the other.

2. In relation to the last five sightings that you logged in 2022, please provide me with a summary of the sighting. This should include
(i) what was alleged to have been seen,
(ii) the location of the sighting and
(iii) what if any police response there was to the sighting.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Date	Area	Details	Cat type	Result	Police response
10/02/2022	Westminster	Large cat without a tail seen going into Hyde Park	Not known	unable to be confirmed one way or the other	No response
10/03/2022	Ealing	Baby tiger seen on a lead in a garden	Tiger	Area searched believed to be a false report	Police responded
29/04/2022	Barnet	Savannah cat seen in Barnet	Savannah cat	Area searched no trace	Police responded
06/07/2022	Barnet	A cat described as a Mini Puma but dark black in colour	Puma	unable to be confirmed one way or the other	No response
31/08/2022	Hillingdon	A male claimed to see a big cat	Not known	unable to be confirmed one way or the other	No response