The Best Sightings of the Australian Panther

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

We are often asked: “What drives you both on, searching year after year, for evidence of animals not officially recognised by scientists?” For us, the answer must always be a love of the rugged Australian bush; and, as field naturalists apart from the known species of our unique native animal life, nothing fascinates us as much as the unknown in nature.

Besides, the vast eastern Australian mountain ranges, like those in other remote parts of the world, contain thousands of square kilometres of scrub and forest country, so inaccessible that much of it has only been mapped rom the air. It is from these ranges that the majority of Australia’s ‘unknown’ animals sightings occur. Until these vast wilderness regions can be fully explored, who can say that creatures such as the Tasmanian Tiger; Australian Panther, Giant Monitor Lizard, The Yowie and others cannot survive hidden from the view of modern man?

It is for this reason that the science of Cryptozoology is important. By gathering evidence of previously unknown or long-thought ‘extinct’ species, the Cryptozoologist can do much towards having them officially recognised and added to the international protected species list.

Such legislation is essential. No sooner is the sighting of some rare animal like the “Australian Panther” [actually a giant marsupial cat] or Tasmanian Tiger reported in the mass media, than the scrub is soon full of trophy hunters armed with guns and dogs, intent upon shooting the poor creature – usually encouraged by a big cash reward offered by some tourist-promoting businessman.

Such antics must be stopped if mankind is to preserve the world’s dwindling wildlife. Coupled with any protective measures must also come further legislation to ensure the preservation of habitats, particularly the world’s rainforests, which are too often the target of the timber industry, that cares little for the wildlife dependent upon these vast forests for their survival. We must act now to save the natural world, for tomorrow will be too late.

It was with these ideals in mind that I established the “Australasian Unknown Animals Investigation Centre” [PO Box 202 Katoomba, NSW 2780; New Email: randhgilroy44@bigpond.com] in 1977. Here all manner of sightings reports and other evidence is gathered and scientifically assessed. The growing mass of information and other evidence gathered here is more than enough to convince us that there is still much to learn about the rare and unknown species that lurk within the deep and impenetrable recesses of our vast Australia bush.

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Original Article
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18730768?searchTerm=panther+cat+australia

The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843-1893)
Saturday 15 December 1866 Page 2

Queensland Times

Mr.Barlec, principal shorthand writer to the Parliament, who probably has more kangaroo blood to answer for than any other city man in the colony, sends the following to the Guardian; it is dated from Kedron Brook: "On five distinct occasions, while hunting in the neighbourhood, I have seen an animal which I cannot classify as belonging to any known genus of the natural history of this colony. I have always found it in the same locality-a patch of grass-tree jungle, about three miles distant from my house.

In form it resembles, more than any other animal with which I am acquainted, the panther of North America; but it is entirely black. Its head is something like that of a well-bred terrier, the nose being short and pointed, while the ears are sharp and erect like those of a fox. Its neck is, however, far more elongated than that of a dog or cat.

It runs in a series of bounds, but does not take to a tree like puss, and it is at least double the size. I hope yet to secure this animal, but unfortunately I have never como across it when I have had a gun in my hand; and my dogs, although they have chased it several times, have invariably declined to worry it, and I need not say, worried me considerably by not doing so. Can it be the 'debbil-debbil' of the natives, or if not what that the debbil is it?"-Queensland Times.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Snowy Range west of Hobart 1972

Tom Forester, a camper, was with two mates exploring the Snowy Range west of Hobart one weekend in January 1972. On this particular Sunday morning they all spotted a large, black-furred cat-like animal observing them from the edge of dense scrub nearby their camp. They had no sooner got to their feet than the creature turned to vanish quickly into the trees. The men later found large paw prints embedded in soil near their camp, suggesting the animal had been there the previous night.

Later that afternoon Tom went to get water from a creek. As he crouched on the creeks’ edge beneath a tall boulder, he saw a dark shadow reflected in the water. Before he could turn to look up, he was thrown aside as the dark shape leapt upon him with a screech, and then bounded across the creek into bushland. A shocked, badly scratched Tom staggered back to camp. Soon afterward his startled friends went in search of the mystery animal, but it had left the area.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Gordon in the Mt Wright Area, North of the Snowy Range 1989

In April 1989 a group of a dozen people saw a black-furred panther-like animal, about two metres in length from head to tail, and standing up to 0.6 of a metre on all fours, as it moved along the shore of Lake Gordon in the Mt Wright area, north of the Snowy Range.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Mt Arthur District East of Launceston Hobart 1960

One farmer from the Mt Arthur district east of Launceston relating how, one day in 1960, he had watched powerlessly as a “black cat-like monster”, a good seven feet [2.3m] from head to tail, bounded out of scrub onto his property to attack and carry off a large calf.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Ben Lomond National Park 1961

Craig Black, a young fossicker, was digging in a creek in Ben Lomond National Park one day in 1961, when he realised he was being watched by a large black ‘panther’ from among bushes, further up the creek on the opposite bank. The animal emerged, then dashed across the shallow creek. It was apparently a female. “I am positive I saw that it was carrying a pouched cub,” he said later to a ranger.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Strathgordon, west of Lake Gordon 1940

In 1940 outside Strathgordon, west of Lake Gordon in the wild bush country of south-western Tasmania, a farmer and his wife spotted a “seven-foot-length, giant, panther-like animal” [2.13m], as it dashed across their back paddock, and leapt effortlessly over a six foot [1.83m] fence before disappearing into trees.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Warragul and Drouin 1990

In 1990, two motorcyclists claim to have been confronted by a “seven foot length [2.13m] head-to-tail, black-furred, panther-like creature”, on a bush tack half way between Warragul and Drouin.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Moe Monster 1978-2000

During 2000 there were reports of fresh tracks of the “Moe Monster” found on properties about the district. Back in September 1978 a long ‘trackway’ of 15.3cm length paw prints were found on a muddy bush track close to the town.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Nullarbor Plain on the Eyre Highway towards Ooldea 1978

A much larger, more terrifying sight was reported to me by a Mr and Mrs Fred Waites in August 1978. “We were driving across the Nullarbor Plain on the Eyre Highway towards Ooldea around 8pm one night in mid-August. There were no other cars on the road. Suddenly we were surprised by a massive black monster, caught in the glare of the headlights, walking across the highway some distance ahead of us.

As I brought the car to a quick halt about 20ft [about 6.1m] from the animal, it snarled directly at us, then dashed off the road into the darkness across open ground. The animal looked like a giant panther - big head, large body and long tail - and at least 7ft [2.13m] from head to tail, and about 3ft [92cm] in height on all fours. Its legs were powerful-looking and it had big paws.”

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Property Between Bridgetown and Donnybrook, South of Fremantle 1979

Consider the claim of Mr Lance Burrows, who was on a property between Bridgetown and Donnybrook, south of Fremantle, in 1979. “I was staying with a friend at the time. The date was 21st August. I was walking across a paddock towards a stand of tall gums when, to my horror, a monstrous black ‘thing’ emerged from the tree-cover not 50ft [15.24m] ahead of me, and bounded in big long strides across the property.

It had a body length of at least six feet [1.83m], with a two feet [61cm] long tail and stood about two feet six inches [76cm] off the ground. It had shiny black fur and big legs. It looked like a big jungle cat of the type found in Asia but for its big, dog-like head. I panicked and ran for the farmhouse as the animal jumped a roadside fence in a big leap and scrambled across the road into scrub.”

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Madura Aree 1982

One day in 1982, Mr Henry Adams was dingo-shooting in the Madura area at the western Eyre [Great Eastern] Highway end of the Nullarbor Plain, when he spotted in the distance a large black animal walking across a dry creek bed. He raised his telescopic sight-fitted rifle and could easily have shot the animal, but chose not to.

“The animal was unique to me and was doing no harm and, besides, my job was only to control the troublesome dingo population thereabouts so I let the animal move on. I would say it was up to 1.83m from head to tail, and stood up to 61cm high on all fours. It looked something like a cross between a big panther and a dog of some kind”, he said.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Three Sighting 1980/1982/1987

During 1992 a dozen sightings reports, as well as several discoveries of tracks of these animals were reported to the author from widely-scattered areas of the Kimberley. Samples of their excrement recovered by landowners sent to university scientists in Perth received no response.

A boundary rider, Glen Noonan, reported to me in 1987, that he had seen these animals on three occasions in the Fitzroy area. “In the first incident, in November 1980, I was boiling the billy out in the scrub while on a fencing job, when I noticed I was being watched from about 30 feet away by a black, cat-like animal standing among bushes. It appeared curious and was about the size of an Alsatian Dog. It then moved off.

Then, in mid-1982, I was mustering cattle for a bloke up in the Phillips Range area, when I came upon a black cat or panther-like beast in the act of devouring a calf it had just killed. It frightened my horse and dashed off into the scrub. It was about five to six feet from head to tail.

My third encounter took place at Mt Coghlan, north of Halls Creek, about February 1987. I was out on horseback looking for lost cattle when I found a number of large, sloppy tracks in the mud of a waterhole. I got off the horse and had a look at them. They were about five inches in width and length, even allowing for distortion in the mud, and I estimated they were only minutes old.

The tracks led off up a dry creek bed and I followed them ‘til they disappeared into thick bushland’. It was soon after this that, as I manoeuvred my mount among trees, I saw ahead of me, perched some 25 feet [7.62m] from the ground, a large, perhaps six foot long, panther-like animal, its red tongue hanging out as it panted, watching me from a tree limb. My horse took fright and I decided to leave the place. The animal made no effort to move and was still there on the limb when I rode away.”

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Mt Brassey Area Nnorth of the Haarts Range 1990

Nineteen year old Len McArthur saw a horrifying sight while bushwalking in the Mt Brassey area north of the Haarts Range one day in April 1990. On a rise above a dry creek bed he watched from behind bushes as a “black-haired, cat-like monster”, over 2m from head to tail, dragged a dead calf in its powerful jaws up the creek bed and over rocks and then disappeared among large boulders.“I was too frightened after seeing this animal to go any further. If it saw me I thought it would attack and kill me,” he said later.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Katherine 1988

‘Big cats’ are said to roam the Kakadu National Park and the central region of Arnhem Land.

At Katherine one July day in 1988, a group of tourists - men, women and children - were sightseeing on the nearby Katherine River, when they spotted three black-furred cat-like creatures emerging from riverfront scrub about 100 yards away, to drink at the waters edge.

The two larger animals [a male and female], and a smaller cub the size of a house cat, at first appeared oblivious to the humans, but once they detected their scent they dashed off up the river bank and into the scrub. “I watched the creatures through my binoculars for about two minutes and I’m sure they were not feral cats. They were not panthers either, but something else - but what, I do not know”, said one member of the group, Bill Cameron, to a reporter later.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Boulia 1938

In 1938, a stockman riding in bushland outside Boulia, was thrown from his horse when he was surprised by a giant-sized, black-furred, cat-like monster, which he claimed was the “size of a cow”. Only a few hasty shots from his revolver saved him from attack, and the animal fled into the scrub.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Jungle Near Normanton 1943

In 1943, a unit of soldiers patrolling the jungle near Normanton on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast surprised a large black cat-like animal engaged in tearing up a full-sized bull it had just killed. As the men grabbed for their rifles, the animal left its ‘kill’ and dashed across the foliage toward the men. A lucky shot brought it down. The soldiers were miles from nowhere, and with more important matters on their minds, left the body where it lay. Despite a search some weeks later, they failed to relocate it.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Atherton district of far north Queensland 1947

Later, in 1947, a ‘panther’ was reported terrorising the Atherton district of far north Queensland. It left huge paw prints in farmyard soil and on creek banks, killed poultry and calves, and made its presence known by emitting loud, ear-piercing cat-like screams and howls from the forest depths on the edge of lonely farms late at night.

One evening, a farmer and his family were sitting in their lounge room listening to the radio. In the moonlight he spotted a large dark shape moving past the window. Thinking it to be a bull from an adjoining paddock, he looked out and saw, to his surprise and shock, an enormous dog-cat like animal walking into the backyard.

Grabbing his rifle, he alerted his wife who grabbed a torch, while he opened the back door. In the torchlight they saw an enormous, black-furred creature with glaring silver-white eyes looking toward them from barely 20ft [6.1m] away! They were terrified, but the farmer fired at the animal, hitting it twice. It dashed off screeching into the darkness.The next day a neighbour found the animal lying dead in the scrub near his home. The two men buried it, thinking to recover the skeleton later, but for one reason or another they never did. Today locals still speculate where the remains might be buried.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Twin Pines area of Kangaroo Valley 1981

During April 1981 in the Twin Pines area of Kangaroo Valley, an entire family got a good look at one of these animals. Two boys and their parents were standing among trees on the edge of a large paddock, when they spotted a large black animal moving through tall grass. They watched as the creature began loping across the paddock, then stopped and looked in their direction. It appeared to be 2m in length from head to tail. By this time, the father had dashed to the nearby family car to get his binoculars.

“The animal had a cat-like, yet dog-like body appearance about it, with pricked ears. Its large head looked dog-like, but the sleek black fur that covered the animal’s body made it look similar to a panther. It had a long tail which did not appear to wag. We were about 360m from the animal. It then dashed off across the paddock, heading for a dry creek bed, and vanished quickly,” the father told me later.

Sighting Reports

Copyright © Rex Gilroy 2003

Glen Davis area 1981

North of the Blue Mountains lies the Glen Davis area, another ‘panther’ locality, where in 1981 there were about 30 sightings reports and footprint finds over a wide area of this vast wilderness region, encased in high valley walls.

In March that year, a farmer went to see what was making his cattle uneasy in a back pasture. As he approached a group of cows, he saw a “monstrous black-furred dog-yet-cat like beast” emerge from behind a tall rock. He afterwards described it as “standing fully three and a half feet [1.7m] on all fours, and with a body six feet [1.83m] long, and a tail at least three-to-four foot [ie up to 1.22m] in length”.

“It stood there snarling, 20 feet from me, its face displaying a wrinkled, leathery-looking appearance with yellowish eyes. I had no gun and ran for my life back to the house. By the time I returned armed, it was gone. I saw it in the distance, bounding up a rise into a stand of timber. It never returned”, he told me later.

• NSW Agriculture Report on information available on the reported large black cat in the Blue Mountains. Prepared by: Bill Atkinson, Agricultural Protection Officer * Click Here *