Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many big cat sightings have been reported in each of the last five years.

A total of 26 sightings of big cats in the wild have been reported to Natural England since 1 January 2010. This figure is broken down as follows:

2010 – 6

2011 – 4

2012 – 4

2013 – 6

2014 – 1

2015 – 5 (to date)

Please be aware that the above are only reports received and logged by Natural England. Other parties such as the Police may hold further records.