Thread: the Australian black Panther

We used to hear a lot about the Wonthaggi Monster in Vic - but nothing for 20 years now. This is all I could find on Google. Its from a local paper in Berwick/Pakenham

I READ with interest in the Bass Valley Newsletter a vivid account of panther sightings.

The story was about the experience of a group of young boys and others.

These animals are, if they are in the Australian bush, black leopards andvery shy.

This view is based on the many firm reports and similar descriptions I have received.

They leave few tracks and little evidence of their existence.

A plausible explanation for their possible presence is that a few were released by American soldiers who had them in Australia as mascots during the war years in the early 1940s.

During the last 40 years I have written about sightings of this animal on average once for every year.

Sometimes the reports came from four or five people calling within a couple of days of each other, and then nothing, except an occasional response to my stories from people who said they would have called me except they were afraid people would think they were cooking up the story.

Reports to me were from areas ranging from well north of Yarra Glen and Healesville to Emerald when I was working in that area.

Is this a mythical legend derived from vivid imaginations? Or is it something we need to seriously consider?

I have spent many hours in the bush, and around places where the reports were coming from in an effort to find the animals, but I could not find the slightest sign of tracks or evidence that they existed.

If the stories are true their numbers by now will be multiplying and the chances of sightings more likely.

But experts say that I could have been within three metres of a black leopard and not seen it because of the animal’s stealthy ability and affinity with the bush.

Zoo curators have told me that it would be a costly project to find them.

I don’t see black leopards as a danger to humans and if it is in the Australian bush it is probably best left alone.

The one factor in all this is that I cannot get from my mind that at least half the reports to me came from people who must be accepted as credible and honest and I believe they saw something.

If the same people gave similar evidence to a court then someone could end up in jail for life because they would have their word positively accepted.

But we still have not been able to obtain proof through photographs, a carcass, or skeleton.

The so-called ‘Wonthaggi Monster’ was for many years a perennial story for iconic Sentinel-Times journalist Tom Gannon.

The reports we received from the Dandenong Ranges area and further afield were of a panther with descriptions too similar to ignore.

I surreptitiously questioned people who made reports to me, particularly when they were all made over a few days, and was convinced that in most cases they were not known to each other.

I am convinced there was no collusion and based on the anecdotal evidence would have to say that these big cats do live in our bush.

But I still find it difficult to accept they are there.

Originally Posted by boss

just run the bloody thing over,CATs are good for nothing but destruction of our forna.....(A GOOD CAT IS A DEAD CAT)

x2

Around 12 yrs ago we were driving along the track to the bat cave near the Bungle Bungles,and saw a big black cat.Spoke to the ranger later that day and he said there are no cats here,never seen one in the last(cant remember,think it was 10yrs)he had been working in this area.

Dont think he believed us,i recon it was a feral cat,not a panther.

We used to often see them,& shoot them out west & they were feral cats,most of them very large.
They were very aggresive if cornered,and so were the kittens.

Originally Posted by scarry

x2

Around 12 yrs ago we were driving along the track to the bat cave near the Bungle Bungles,and saw a big black cat.Spoke to the ranger later that day and he said there are no cats here,never seen one in the last(cant remember,think it was 10yrs)he had been working in this area.

Dont think he believed us,i recon it was a feral cat,not a panther.

We used to often see them,& shoot them out west & they were feral cats,most of them very large.
They were very aggresive if cornered,and so were the kittens

.

how do you corner a cat in the bush when the bush doesn't have corners

Originally Posted by dullbird

how do you corner a cat in the bush when the bush doesn't have corners

true

This is what i have seen happen,more than a few times.Cats have not much stanima,if chased by a dog in a paddock with no trees,they eventually pull up,usually near a log or stump and try and fight their way out.Once CORNERED like this they are extremely aggressive.

Their main escape route is a tree,and then they are easily shot.

Just my 2 cents worth

Afterr reading the many posts in this thread, I now believe the cause of the sightings is not rum but home made grappa or slivovitz.

My dad saw one about 20 years ago while shooting around Seymore, Vic. Had it in his gun sights so got a good look... Didn't shoot it!

My wife is certain she saw one about 10 years ago at Donnelly's Weir, Healsville. Walking just after dark with her mother and friend, when it ran past them, looked back and gave a deep growl, then ran off. All agree that it didn't move like a dog, and had cat-like eyes. Interestingly, they also say it had a chain around its neck. There have been other reports of this one too.

There was some good footage a few years ago from the Orbost area. A farmer flimed a minute or so of footage.

I saw one walking out in the bush in Western NSW years ago. It was a pitch black night with no moon, and I didn't have a torch with me either.

But I clearly saw this big black panther in the middle of a paddock when the min min light went over and lit up the whole area.

I spotted one about 10 years ago down in gippsland. It was feeding on a sheep. I doubt it was a fox or if it was it was bloody big. I took a shot at it but missed it cleared a 6 foot fence in one bound.