Macarthur region’s panther trackers have a new way to record evidence of their sightings
AFTER years of attempting to track down the elusive Macarthur panther, the region’s big cat spotters now have another tool in their arsenal to help them locate the creature.
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AFTER years of attempting to track down the elusive Macarthur panther, the region’s big cat spotters now have another tool in their arsenal to help them locate the creature.
A new website, Pantherpeople.com, aims to keep track of big cat sightings across Australia and is encouraging the region’s avid panther trackers to report their sightings.
Numerous myths surround the existence of the famed Macarthur panther with many believing one or more panthers escaped from the exotic animal zoos operating in the region during the 70s and 80s.
Panther People founder Vaughan King from the Australian big cat research group is a former big cat handler at Australia Zoo and believes big cats prowl Australia following hundreds of reported sightings across the country.
Mr King said the Macarthur region had been particularly prone to sightings over the years and he planned to visit the region and check it out for himself.
“There have been many (sightings) over the years and there has been a lot of different incidents which point to it being a big cat,” he said.
“We’ve already had one submission on the website about a panther in the Wedderburn area.
“There were a lot of different small zoos in the (Macarthur) area many years ago.
“I’ve spoken people who used to be involved in these sort of small zoos all over Australia and they have confirmed to me that there were big cats that escaped and are unaccounted for.”
Mr King said he hoped the website would help big cat trackers keep a permanent record of sightings.
“The idea behind the website is to keep a record of sightings across Australia so that we can continue to gather evidence.
“Some people may think that it’s crazy but I’m happy to be the representative for crazy.”
One Wedderburn resident submitted an entry to the website claiming to have sighted the Macarthur Panther at about 11am on January 21.
“Coming to the end of a fire trail I heard a sudden rustling in the bushes to my left. As I turned I spotted a large black cat darting off behind some bushes,” the post said.
“After the initial sound of it taking off I didn’t hear anything afterwards. I saw the rear end of the animal which didn’t resemble anything other than a type of feline.
“It was about 55-60cm high at the hips with a snakey tail about a meter long. I tried to look for it but it had vanished without a trace.”
TRACK THE CAT
1997: The Macarthur Chronicle reports a collection of sightings of panther-like creatures
2007: Five men sight a panther-like creature in Appin
2008: Large paw prints are found in Burragorang Valley
2010: A large black cat is seen near Airds
2010: Three sightings from the Macarthur region are featured in a book Australian Big Cats: An Unnatural History of Panthers
2011: Camden teenagers capture footage of what they believe is a panther at Appin
2011: Sighting in Ambarvale
2013: Woman sees panther near Bargo
2013: Sighting in Oakdale
2014: A sighting is reported near Simmos Beach
INCREDIBLE ANIMAL
■ Panthers grow to more than 2m in length and weigh up to 120kg
■ Are the strongest tree climbers in the cat world
■ Can hunt from just two months old
■ Can leap up to 6m
■ Live up to 12 years in the wild and 20 in captivity
■ Have exceptional eyesight and hearing
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