The Ministry of Agriculture is warning the public against sharing unconfirmed reports of a 'jaguar attack' as claimed by a Palo Seco man on social media on Wednesday. In a statement issued on the same day, the ministry said such reports could fuel panic and reckless behaviour.

Earlier, Newsday visited the man at his home at Premier Settlement in Palo Seco over claims that he had seen the elusive “jaguar.” He later claimed to have been attacked by a smaller predator.

On Wednesday, Ramesh Ramroop, 44, took Newsday to a mango tree in a bushy area to show what he said were claw marks made by an adult jaguar on Tuesday at around 6.30 pm.

The father of two children, ages nine and ten, also showed the base of a plum tree where he said he first saw the dangerous animal resting at about 5.30 pm on Tuesday.

But shortly after 2 pm on Wednesday, after Newsday left the area, Ramroop went viral on social media after he said a smaller jaguar attacked him while handling clothes in the yard.

Ramroop said he used a piece of wood to hit the animal, which returned to the forested area. Photos that a relative shared, showed scrapes on his back and hands.

Ramroop was taken to the Siparia District Health Facility for medical treatment and had not yet made a police report about the latest incident.

No one else saw the attack or had video or photos of jaguars.

When Newsday visited before the alleged attack, Ramroop recalled hearing the family’s pet dog, Milo, barking continuously under the house on Tuesday afternoon.

He looked through a window, thinking someone was at the front. He then saw the “jaguar” at the base of the tree.

“I got frightened and told two children to lock the doors and stay inside. I called the police. When it saw me, it bawled and ran into the bushes. At around 6.30 pm, I saw it again, this time spread out on the mango tree,” he said.

He said the black and yellow cat was bigger than an average dog. He wants those in authority to capture and/ or kill the animal.

Residents have been claiming to have seen a jaguar on the loose for the past week. They believe it might have been smuggled into the country from neighbouring Venezuela.

On Tuesday, several large pawprints were found, which are still to be determined what animal had made them.

Game wardens from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, the police and other stakeholders like the NGO Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT) and the Zoological Society have been working together to investigate the claims of possible sightings of the exotic animal.

On Wednesday, the ministry said there were “no confirmed reports of a jaguar attack” in Palo Seco.

A statement from the ministry said it was aware of the social media reports of the alleged attack.

It added that the Game Warden Unit representatives interviewed the alleged victim, and the police are also investigating it.

The ministry called on the public to refrain from sharing unconfirmed reports as it will continue to fuel panic and reckless behaviour.

The unit has set up camp