The couple captured the animal on video at a hotel near Dartmouth, Devon
Andy Crick and Husna Anjum
16:17, 24 Feb 2026Updated 16:22, 24 Feb 2026
Mystery as video footage shows ‘panther’ spotted by hotel guests
A couple have shared the major shock they had when they saw a ‘big cat’ while staying at a Devon hotel.
Karen Carter was celebrating her husband’s birthday with a glass of prosecco when they spotted the mystery, big, black animal. The creature was seen in a field nearby and then meandered through the vegetation.
It then disappeared but Karen was able to capture it in a 36-second video at 4:05pm on February 5. They were just 200 metres away from the beast at the hotel near Dartmouth, Devon.
It was just 50 miles from Bodmin Moor. There have been over 60 suspected sightings of a ‘big cat’ there since the 1970s, dubbed the Beast of Bodmin.
Shocked Karen said: “It was filmed from the conservatory restaurant of the hotel. I’d booked it as my husband’s birthday gift. After relaxing in the spa, we decided to pop up to the bar and treat ourselves to a glass of prosecco.
“A couple of sips in and I saw movement on the golf course. We couldn’t go out and investigate further as we were both in dressing gowns.”
Composite image featuring ‘Beast of Bodmin’. There have been over 60 suspected sightings of a ‘big cat’ there since the 1970s
She added: “We are both keen wildlife watchers but we’re unsure what this was due to its size.”
Big cat experts and enthusiasts are all convinced it is a big cat, possibly a panther.
Rick Minter, host of Big Cat Conversations podcast, said: “In looking at the footage, we need to consider the form, the movement, the behaviour and the scale. The long body, the apparent bulk, the thick tail and the thick legs do suggest a large cat which people might describe as a ‘panther’.
“In Britain the main specific candidate for a panther is a leopard in its black form. Two black leopards mating produce entirely black offspring, so they breed on black.
“The cautious movement and the gait does fit the bill for a large cat. Large predators are mostly stealthy and cautious even in roaming mode.
Grab of video of ‘big cat’ spotted near hotel(Image: ACN / Karen Carter)
“The scale appears large but to be fully sure, a reference point would help, such as the width of the trees it passes by would need to be known. Many experienced people getting back to me do feel this is likely a very large cat, possibly a black leopard.”
Big cat enthusiast Lisa Kay said: “It does look big, amazing you managed to get footage.”
Another Tasha Wilkie said: “Best proof filmed I’ve seen so far.”
Mandy Priest added: “Definitely looks like a big cat to me.”
Ruth Stephens said: “One hundred per cent panther. Having witnessed them myself in daylight, head shape and tail are right.”
Chris Smith said: “Big and bulky, unafraid of anything, looks and moves like big cat.”
One, named Diana, added: “At last a decent video it’s far too big to be a domestic cat. If you look at the size of it as it walks by the tree.”