Gloucestershire has long been a hotspot for mysterious big cat sightings, sparking curiosity and fear throughout the county. While many encounters are fleeting and too rapid for photos, some brave witnesses have managed to capture rare video footage of these elusive creatures.
In one notable incident from November 2024, a man attending a busy lunchtime sports game near a local field was astonished to see a large feline stroll past the fence and into the nearby woods. He described the animal as about the size of a Labrador, moving with a distinct, purposeful gait unlike a domestic cat. Although his video is grainy, the footage vividly shows the big cat pausing to observe the activity on the green before disappearing into the trees. The witness, initially skeptical, has since shared the video, leaving viewers to decide for themselves what they saw.
March 2023 brought another compelling sighting in the Forest of Dean. A visiting couple filmed what they believe to be a black panther walking across a field adjacent to the A40. The distinctly dark creature was estimated to be twice as long as a Labrador, and the video quality provided one of the clearest glimpses of a big cat in the UK countryside. Wildlife enthusiast Frank Tunbridge, with six decades of experience, reviewed the footage and affirmed that evidence of wild big cats in the UK is now overwhelming. He estimates 16-24 sightings occur weekly across Great Britain, many unreported due to public skepticism and fear.
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Mr. Tunbridge explained that many of these large cats likely descend from exotic pets released after the 1976 Dangerous Animals Act, adapting and thriving in Britain’s woodlands. Signs including roadkill, prey remains, scratch marks, and droppings support the growing presence of these animals. Today, wild cats resembling leopards or pumas, often black or fawn in color, have established themselves alongside other introduced species like wild boar and ring-necked parakeets.
An earlier sighting from May 2021 also highlights Gloucestershire’s big cat mystery. Paul Johnson, fishing at Haresfield Fisheries, spotted a big cat moving casually along a hedgerow about 300 yards away. The animal appeared relaxed, eventually sitting calmly before continuing down a track. Johnson, who had believed in big cats before, found the environment ideal for such a creature, with ample water and prey. Despite their startling presence, sightings like his have not deterred local anglers from returning.
These exceptional videos and eyewitness accounts continue to fuel the debate about the existence of large wild cats in the UK, particularly in Gloucestershire. Whether large domestic cats or true wild felines, the evidence compiled by witnesses and experts alike invites curiosity and caution in equal measure.