Father and son convinced they spotted a black panther at Paluma

A father and son travelling through Paluma’s “impenetrable” rainforest claim they have seen a large panther like creature prowling along the road. Have you seen any mysterious creatures in the area?

A father and son are convinced they have seen a black panther looking creature prowling near Townsville.

Don and John Morris were driving to Lake Paluma about 9.15am on September 7 when they spotted the creature run out from the bush.

Father and son Don and John Morris have reported seeing a mysterious animal on the Paluma Range. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

“It just ran in front of us. It happened so quickly it was halfway through the road when we saw it running,” Don, 87, said.

“We both saw it and it was definitely feline but far too big for a domestic cat.

“If it was a domestic cat, it was the biggest domestic cat I’ve ever seen.

“In my mind’s eye I can still see the unmistakeable silhouette of a panther, along with the pricked ears normally associated with pictures of such animals.”

Don, who said he did not drink or smoke, described the mysterious creature as being jet black and “panther shape” which fled into the dense rainforest before he was able to take a photo.

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“We stopped but it had disappeared so quickly. I’m not saying it was a panther, but it looked like one,” he said.

“Some parts of the forests up there are impenetrable. Anything could be in there, anything.

“I do believe that area still holds many secrets, which may never be unlocked because of the impenetrable nature of the whole area.

“I’ve travelled pretty extensively here in the north and have never seen anything like it. I know what I saw that day, and no one can take that away from me. My question is, has anyone from this area had a similar experience?”

A black panther was reportedly seen prowling in Paluma by Don and John Morris. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)

John, 65, said the creature “was about the size of maybe a cattle dog, but it ran like a cat”.

He said its movements differentiated it from dogs, pigs and bush turkeys which could have been of a similar colour.

“It was pure black like a bush pig, but it wasn’t a bush pig,” he said.

“We only saw it for 2 seconds max, then it disappeared into the jungle.”

Originally published as Father and son convinced they spotted a black panther at Paluma