A gruesome discovery of dead sheep near Carmarthen has sparked fears of a big cat lurking in the area, with local residents expressing concern over potential predators.
A significant incident has left residents near Carmarthen feeling unnerved as a big cat is suspected to be at large following the gruesome discovery of two sheep and one lamb found dead in a field. The horrifying scene was stumbled upon by 21-year-old farm worker Alicia White, who reported her findings while exploring the area near her home.
White described the remains as alarming, noting that the sheep had been severely mutilated, with one lamb completely bereaved of its head, while the others had their skulls stripped of flesh. “I found them up behind our house,” White recounted in her comments to NeedToKnow. “The lamb’s head was completely gone and the other two sheep had their skulls eaten in half. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It does make me think it is possible it was done by a big cat.”
Having heard reports of big cat sightings in South Wales previously, Alicia’s suspicions lean towards the involvement of a large feline predator in the sheep’s deaths. She expressed confidence in the existence of such creatures in Britain, sharing her experiences from Devon, where she spent time camping on Dartmoor, a terrain she believes could provide shelter for big cats, should they exist.
The situation around Carmarthen comes at a time when fears are heightened regarding the presence of large cats in the wild. Just last month, an incident in Buckinghamshire heightened public awareness when a dark, sizeable feline creature was captured on a doorbell camera while perched on a skip in a village near High Wycombe. Homeowner David Lawrence only realised what had been visiting his property after the six-foot-wide skip was removed. Describing the creature, he noted, “It looked bigger than a normal cat. It was climbing into my skip. It has larger paws and a long thick tail and slightly smaller ears than a domestic cat. There’s something about it that shouts to me it’s not normal.”
Adding to this discourse, Professor Robin Allaby from Warwick University stirred interest in 2022 with his suggestion that as many as 100 big cats might inhabit the British countryside. He reported that DNA from the Panthera genus — which includes lions, leopards, tigers, jaguars, and snow leopards — was detected on a sheep carcass in the Lake District, fuelling speculation about the existence of these big cats in the wilds of the UK.
These recent developments underscore growing concerns regarding the possible presence of large, potentially dangerous predators lurking in rural areas, leaving both residents and experts to ponder the implications of such creatures living undetected in the British landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/big-cats-in-the-british-countryside – This article supports the claim that big cats, such as black leopards, are reportedly thriving in the British countryside, with multiple sightings and descriptions similar to those mentioned in Alicia White’s experience.
- https://www.journee-mondiale.com/en/dna-confirms-big-cats-are-prowling-british-countryside-rare-evidence-reveals-76-pound-predator-species-thriving-in-spring-2025/ – This article corroborates the detection of Panthera genus DNA in the UK and mentions Professor Robin Allaby’s involvement in confirming the presence of big cats.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_big_cats – This entry provides historical context and examples of reported big cat sightings in the UK, similar to the incident near Carmarthen and the Buckinghamshire sighting.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This is the original source for the story about the gruesome discovery of sheep remains near Carmarthen, which sparked suspicions of a big cat’s involvement.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news – While specific big cat articles are not listed, the BBC News site would typically cover such stories, providing additional reports on sightings and related events across the UK.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk – The Independent often covers stories on wildlife and local legends, which would include articles on sightings or discussions about big cats in the British countryside.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent incidents and ongoing concerns about big cat sightings, suggesting it is relatively current. However, specific details from 2022 are included, which do not detract from its general freshness but indicate some older information is being referenced.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
While direct quotes are provided, there is no clear evidence that these quotes originated elsewhere online prior to this publication. Alicia White’s and David Lawrence’s comments appear to be original to this context.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from WalesOnline, a reputable regional news outlet in Wales. However, some information is based on statements from individuals without formal verification of their claims.
Plausability check
Score:
5
Notes:
The claims about big cat sightings and damage to farm animals are plausible, given previous reports. However, there is a lack of concrete evidence to support these claims definitively, which reduces the plausibility score.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative contains recent incidents and plausible claims about big cat sightings but lacks definitive evidence and relies on unverified statements. Source reliability is fair due to the regional news outlet’s reputation, but overall credibility could be enhanced with more concrete data.
