Numerous reports of panther sighting surface

FOREVER a point of contention among locals, the elusive Macarthur Panther is back on the prowl after a woman spotted a big cat-like creature on her way home.

THE elusive Macarthur Panther is back on the prowl after Werombi resident Shelly Sawka spotted a big cat-like creature on her way home from work.

Mrs Sawka stared in stunned disbelief as the feline crossed Werombi Rd in front of her about 9.30pm on Wednesday.

“It was a very dark brown and about the size of a normal dog but slender,” she said. “It had very bright eyes. It was really unusual.”

Sightings of giant cat-like creature continue to be reported from the Macarthur region. Picture: Generic

Shayne McDonald has reported seeing the Panther numerous times.

Mrs Sawka is the latest of hundreds of residents who have reported sightings of the big cat in the last two decades.

The Macarthur Chronicle has reported on panther sightings across the region’s bushland and rural areas including Bargo, Appin, Greendale, Orangeville, Nattai, Cobbitty, Ingleburn, Narellan and Airds.

Mrs Sawka said she did a U-turn to see the cat again before it ran off into the bushes.

“I see a lot of wombats, foxes, kangaroos and such while driving home,” she said.

“At first I thought it was a wombat but as I came back I could see it clearly. It definitely wasn’t a domestic cat.”

SIGHTINGS OF ROAMING PANTHER SPARK INVESTIGATION

GREENDALE RESIDENT BELIEVES CAT SIMILAR TO HERS IS BEING MISTAKEN FOR MACARTHUR PANTHER

Cryptozoologist Rex Gilroy with paw print castings in Appin. Picture: Ian Svegovic

Paw prints found by Gavin Noakes in Orangeville.

Many theories have been put forward to explain the mysterious cat’s existence.

Some include US Air Force personnel let wild animals go after World War II, or that panthers escaped from the now defunct Bullen’s Animal World and African Lions Safari in Wallacia.

Animal expert David Phalen isn’t convinced about the existence of the panther.

Animal experts have also speculated the creature could be a large feral cat.

Mrs Sawka said she wasn’t aware that so many people had reported similar sightings.

“I had heard about it vaguely but didn’t know it was such a big deal because I only moved here four years ago,” she said.

“I was really disappointed it ran off too quickly for me to take a photo.”

Long Point resident Shayne McDonald also reported a sighting this year while hiking in Nattai.

But associate professor at the University of Sydney, Camden, David Phalen cast doubt on the existence of the panther.

“I’m surrounded by biologists right now, let me take a poll,” he said as he answered the Macarthur Chronicle’s call. “No, we don’t believe in it,” he said as he returned to the phone.

Dr Phalen offered an explanation for the sightings.

“People make mistakes in identifying animals all the time,” he said.

“I’m not sure what they could be seeing but I guess at times it could be something like a big domestic cat or dog.

“At the end of the day, I think there is insufficient evidence to suggest a panther exists.”

One  of the most popular theories regarding panther sightings is that some big cats may have escaped from Bullen’s Animal World in Wallacia or the African Lion Safari in Warragamba.

Bullen’s Animal World was opened in 1969 by Stafford Bullen, the son of circus founder Alfred Percival Bullen, and operated until 1985.

Mr Bullen’s nearby venture African Lion Safari, which was opened one year prior, closed in 1991.

In its early years, the ­safari proved popular attracting up to 200,000 visitors a year.

Despite its closure, the park continued to hold animals on site that were used in a circus but not displayed to the public.

Giving some confidence to the Macarthur Panther theory, several lionesses escaped from the park on August 7, 1995.

They entered the nearby townships of Warragamba and Silverdale and one of them killed a dog. The lioness responsible was shot.

A bear also escaped and was shot by residents.

Mr Bullen died in 2001 aged 76.