I'm trying to find somewhere to report my sighting/experience with a big black panther in NSW, near the town of #######, on ######## Creek.I have also notified big cats VIC.
I'm 25 years old and I was travelling home with my new born baby (2 months old) and step daughter (3.5yrs) from ######## to my home, a property near ###### on 4 october 2011. It was on dusk and my baby had a bad dose of wind, and was screaming terribly. I could only pull over just before the turn off to ########## to tend to her.
I left the engine on and lights on low beam. I had her outside the car, she was crying loudly. Next minute I hear a loud thud and sticks and foliage breaking under heavy foot. I've been in the bush often pig hunting, rock climbing and hiking with my partner who is a bush survival expert and knew this wasn't a pig or kangaroo or dog - it was way to heavy. I heard more sticks breaking as something walked. I didn't know what it was but it wasn't something normal for the Australian bush. Alarmed I jumped in the car and locked the doors. My baby was still crying, I had her in my right arm. My instincts were running hot. I looked outside the windscreen and passenger side window at a black shadow moving back and forth through the grass but thought my eyes may be playing tricks on me with the fading light. But then, a large black cat appeared (it must have cleared the fence) and was only about 2 meters from the car. It was long bodied and had a long curved tail with an unmistakable body and head of a large cat. It was so huge. My initial thought was 'that's a lion' - it was just so big, but it was black. It walked to the front left diagonal of the car in a prow-like stance, but I became so afraid and shocked I dropped the handbrake and took-off. I drove with my baby in my arms, no seatbelt or anything just totally hyperventilating. I was in shock, I didn't expect to see that or have it come to me. I was so frightened. I don't get frightened hunting large boar or climbing cliffs but I was frightened now, to the core. Obviously my crying baby woke it and it was curious to see what it was. I drove to a friend's farm and pulled in to calm down. I called my partner who came there too. The difference with this experience is that it came to me. I have since spoken with a few ###### locals and know a cocky who lives near ######## creek (same creek) that have seen large cats in this area. I still have nightmares!
