In August last year we were camping on Moreton Island, Qld. I live on the Sunshine Coast, and we go fishing for a week every year on Moreton. We were driving over to the surf side to fish for Taylor, and got over half way on the inland track when a huge black cat leapt across the track. It was as big as a Labrador. We pulled up, and could see a bit of a footprint about the size of the palm of a hand where it touched the track.

We told the lady at the shop on the way home later, and she just laughed at us and said you get a few feral cats on the island, but this was no feral cat.

I have heard that quite a few American troops were stationed on Moreton Island during the war, and it was a trend to have big cats as mascots. Either way, what we saw was no feral cat. I know feral cats get big, but not that big. We definitely saw something huge running around Moreton Island.

Thanks,
Chriso

This is in the middle of Glenbrook NSW, just down from Glenbrook Lagoon in Olivet St.

I wasn’t sure about the black panther myth, but after what I’ve seen there is NO doubt in my mind that they are around; this thing was not a over grown cat, it was fat, big, black and had a long tail, not touching the ground because of the flick at the end of it but very close to the ground.

I am actually quite sure that I have seen a young one myself sometimes in 2000. I have no idea how to report my experience, until I come across this webpage. I was driving my new car from Melbourne to Mildura behind my husband’s car, one late night (6 hours drive). Between Sea Lake and Ouyen all of the sudden a large black cat-look-alike jumped from the bush right under my husband’s car on front of me, it somersaulted few times between the wheels and jumped right back into the bush at great speed. It was silky black colour, twice as big as an ordinary cat, but big enough for a young panther. As the low beam headlights of my car were shining under my husband’s car, I really had a good view. I was very surprised of the strength, speed and resilience of this animal, which I had never seen before.

I have thought of the possibilty that the Black Panther cubs were imported by early Slavic Wends (Sorbs), so-called “German immigrants” from Silesia and Saxony over 150 years ago to Australia as their “totem” animal (Central European Slavic Wendish pagan symbol) and a small number has survived in the Australian wild?

The larger cat was not scared of motocross bikes or the cars we use to get around the property, we got within 10 metres of it before it tried to lure us away from the smaller cat, I wondered if they had cubs that they were trying to protect ?
The larger cat at back height was over knee high but not quite hip high, it was very long and it’s tail was as long as it’s body. It’s eye’s were bright yellow.
The smaller cat seemed to be the female and was jet black as well with the same features just a bit smaller in size.
These cats are not your standard feral cat.

Prior to this we have seen very large footprints in the sandy soil and I got a quick look at one as it ran across the track in 2007.
Since Easter 2009 I set a large cage trap using fresh chickens as bait for a 10 day period but got nothing.

I haven’t been too worried until now and thus the reason I am posting this message on the this web page.

January 15 2010 We were at the property again and at night heard what seemed to be a cat crying, soon after the crying intensified to sound like a girl screaming. Very spooky.
I revisited some Big cat web sites and saw a Today Tonight program shown on TV 22/1/10 that also said about the woman screaming sound that these cats make…!

We were at the property again Australia day weekend 22-26 / 1 /2010.
Nothing happened all weekend until some of the teenage kids car broke down on a track, they had to walk back to the shed just on dark Sunday the 24th, they heard a cat sort of meowing, then a normal sized cat ran across the track in front of them leaving normal sized paw print in the sand. The kids kept walking the the calling got quite loud, they discribed it as a girl screaming in the bush.

I am getting more concerned now than I have ever been before. If anyone knows of similar sighting out this way can you please email me.

did the beastie leave long claw marks or just holes above the toe print?

Thanks for posting that – I suggest that you report it to ARFRA.

– Keith.

Regards. John