I have seen one of these,its fair dinkum...
TWO cousins will return to school with a terrifying story of a close
encounter with Victoria's legendary black panther.
The Queensland teenagers claim they ran for their lives when a feral feline
mercilessly attacked another animal at their grandparents' Healesville
property.
Chris and James McLaren, both 15, said their experience occurred while
staying with a large family group over Christmas. The boys, who had never
heard of the numerous big cat sightings in Victoria, are now almost certain
they crossed a panther's path.
The animal they saw by torchlight on December 28 was smaller than a horse,
bigger than a dog, and made gruesome cat-like sounds as it attacked another
animal, Chris said. They ran for their lives and horses nearby bolted in fear.
Chris's father, Brisbane airline pilot Mark McLaren, said he had never
heard his son swear until he and James raced home terrified.
"Their feet didn't touch the ground and the looks on their faces was one of
sheer terror," Mr McLaren said yesterday.
The frightening incident occurred in a large paddock abutting the McLaren
grandparents' property. Chris said he and James heard an extremely loud
noise that resembled a big cat attacking another animal.
A search of the area the next day failed to reveal any animal carcass or
signs of an animal attack.
But Chris, who has returned to Queensland, said yesterday he believed a big
feral cat could survive in the area, with a creek nearby and a plentiful
food supply.
"I have been trawling the Internet and realise most sightings of the
supposed black panthers have occurred in the north of the state," he said.
"I have previously visited my grandparents at Healesville and have found a
large circle of feathers."
Generations of Victorians have reported big cat sightings, mostly around
the Lancefield area.
One story claims the animals are the offspring of a panther brought into
Australia by a United States soldier and released in the wild.
END
There is another sighting reported in the local,(Mt Macedon) paper.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,5898201%255E2862,00.html
