Thread: the Australian black Panther

Originally Posted by Shonky

They even named their NRL team (the Penrith Panthers) after it - so it must exist!

I mean, haven't you seen the abundance of Eels in Parramatta, Roosters in Sydney, Knights in Newcastle etc etc...

That is actually the reason Parra are called the Eels, cause of the lovely specimens in the Parramatta river, and the fact they are electrifying.
Roosters because they are cocks
Knights - They were orignally going to be called FAR Knights, because said in the slow speaking Hunter dialogue, they are KN-IG-HTS (ken-Ijeets)
I could go on......

PS Penrith were known as "the chocolate soldiers", because of their jerseys and the way they played. This changed to "liquorice allsorts" after they changed their strip in 91

I've spent alot of time and driven and walked alot of miles in the bush. I have never seen one of those rabbits with antlers. But they are quite popular with taxidermists so someone must be shooting them.

As for the panthers, I have never seen one at a taxidermists!

Guys, thank you for your input.
I do not use alcohol or drugs, and I started the post because I saw one from a couple of hundred feet away that was about 6 feet long--and caught a glimpse of what could be another one one night. I was sitting at the edge of a gorge, and it was on a rock shelf on thebottom of the gorge. Use to do abseiling and got use to estimating cliff heights. This other one that we saw at night, a big black dog--we did not think a feline/cat could be that big, ran across the road in front of our car, and went straight up a steep embankment--those where the road is cut through a hill, this embankment being at least 25 foot high. I doubt a dog could have gone up something like that. I use a library computer and had to cut short my original post, due to running out of time.

After talking to my son, I will withdraw my remark that he has seen one, as his description on questioning is not of a panther like creature, but something else. I have asked him to draw what he saw for me alone, but he has not done this as yet.

Was interested to see one person from Coffs reporting that near the Stix state forrest he saw one. The one I clearly saw would not have been too far from there, being in a gorge at the edge of the New England Plataeu, and this gorge may have been a tributary of the Styx river--not sure not some years later. When I get down to Sydney will ask the friend I was with if he remembers exactly where we were.

As far as the TV report goes they showed faeces and fur from the creature they say is in the Blue mountains. It is a pity science has not checked this for DNA. If it is a large feral cat--and I think what I saw is too big to be a feral cat-- it would be interesting to find out what it is eating.

There will always be skeptics until they see a dead one, or one in a zoo, and I think it is okay to be a little bit skeptical, as long as you are open minded enough to be willing to examine any presented evidence-- and I have been labeled a conspirisy theorist in the past.
The thing I do not personally like, is when a person has made up his mind, so is not wiling to examine any evidence in case he is proved to be wrong. And yes, I know their is not enough evidence as yet to be a hundred percent sure, but to me personally I recon there is enough to be 98% sure. My dad was sure he saw one before the second world war, and my dad was not a liar, and did not drink.

Originally Posted by JohnF

Guys, thank you for your input.
I do not use alcohol or drugs,

I don't think I accused you of that... must have been someone else.

Originally Posted by JohnF

went straight up a steep embankment--those where the road is cut through a hill, this embankment being at least 25 foot high. I doubt a dog could have gone up something like that.

On the other hand, perhps it could have.

Originally Posted by JohnF

After talking to my son, I will withdraw my remark that he has seen one, as his description on questioning is not of a panther like creature, but something else. I have asked him to draw what he saw for me alone, but he has not done this as yet.

A dog perhaps ? Why for you alone ? DO share.....

Originally Posted by JohnF

As far as the TV report goes they showed faeces and fur from the creature they say is in the Blue mountains. It is a pity science has not checked this for DNA. If it is a large feral cat--and I think what I saw is too big to be a feral cat-- it would be interesting to find out what it is eating.

No DNA has been tested because none has been provided because "I buried the body and can't find it" or any number of other ludicrous reasons. Anyway without a corpse DNA is of little use as there is always doubt as to where it could have come from.

Whatever it is, it will be eating native mammals and stock.

Originally Posted by JohnF

There will always be skeptics

Scientists
Realists.

Originally Posted by JohnF

I think it is okay to be a little bit skeptical, as long as you are open minded enough to be willing to examine any presented evidence--

Thanks. I'll happily consider any EVIDENCE when some is presented.

Originally Posted by JohnF

And yes, I know their is not enough evidence as yet to be a hundred percent sure,

Or even 1% sure (sure means certain, and is an absolute).

Originally Posted by JohnF

to me personally I recon there is enough to be 98% sure.

Evidence ? Where ? All you have written about is hearsay.

Originally Posted by JohnF

My dad was sure he saw one before the second world war, and my dad was not a liar, and did not drink.

Not casting any aspersions on your Dad but he could have been mistaken. It happens.

Did you read the thing on cryptozoology ? Quite interesting I reckon. Especially the "giant squid" etc that were dismissed but have since been shown to exist. So yes - my mind is open, but not open enough for things to fall out.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

but not open enough for things to fall out.

what things ?

Whilst I believe that many credible people have thought that they've genuinely seen a panther in the wild, I agree with others here who say that they're feral cats. I've shot a few ferals before and have found that the further from the city areas you get, the bigger they are. I downed a beauty once near Glenmore (between Bacchus Marsh and The Brisbane Ranges, Vic). We'd caught it in the spotlight and thought that we'd be the first to have real proof of a panther and after a well placed shot right between his eyes, and the mandatory 5 minute wait after shooting a cat, we looked at the bugger and concluded it was the biggest feral we'd ever seen. Have seen plenty more in some fairly remote areas over time and can quite easily see why they can be mistaken for panthers etc. I imagine they've got a good food supply out there and I'm only guessing in thinking that each generation of the ^&%$#$*'s are getting bigger due to this. Just as bloody kids today are.

common sense mainly.

Originally Posted by davewalk

Whilst I believe that many credible people have thought that they've genuinely seen a panther in the wild, I agree with others here who say that they're feral cats. I've shot a few ferals before and have found that the further from the city areas you get, the bigger they are. I downed a beauty once near Glenmore (between Bacchus Marsh and The Brisbane Ranges, Vic). We'd caught it in the spotlight and thought that we'd be the first to have real proof of a panther and after a well placed shot right between his eyes, and the mandatory 5 minute wait after shooting a cat, we looked at the bugger and concluded it was the biggest feral we'd ever seen. Have seen plenty more in some fairly remote areas over time and can quite easily see why they can be mistaken for panthers etc. I imagine they've got a good food supply out there and I'm only guessing in thinking that each generation of the ^&%$#$*'s are getting bigger due to this. Just as bloody kids today are.

Mandatory 5 minute wait ? It's not a lion ! Or is there a waiting period on cats now as there is with firearms ?


LOL @ obesity epidemic in feral cats ! maybe it'll slow the buggers down and I can take out a few !