Tourists report black panther sighting north of Charters Towers

Stunned tourists have recounted the moment a “large black panther” prowled onto the road and forced them to slow down their motor home on the way to Charters Towers.

Stunned tourists have recounted the moment a “large black panther” prowled onto the road and forced them to slow down their motor home on the way to Charters Towers.

Victorian tourists Nicole and Don Street were travelling south to Charters Towers after visiting the Undara Lava Tubes when they encountered what they adamantly believe was a black panther crossing Gregory Development Rd near Basalt about 2pm on Sunday.

Mrs Street said she had to slow down their motorhome and allow it to finish cross the road before it disappeared into the long grass.

“I was completely freaked out, I thought: ‘What the f**k is that,” she said.

“This big cat meandered across the road in front of us.

Victorian tourists Don and Nicole Street were forced to slow down in their motor home to let a 3-metre black Panther cross the highway on the way to Charters Towers. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It was only a few meters away. There was no mistaking it.

“It wasn’t a feral cat. It was a panther. It’s coat was jet black, it was glistening in the sun.

“It was about 80cm tall and 3m long including it’s tail which was long and hooped.”

It comes after a Douglas Shire resident claimed to have taken a photograph of the elusive big cat on December 11, 2022 in the South Mossman area.

A resident in North Queensland claimed to have captured footage of an elusive big cat roaming in the South Mossman area on December 11, 2022.

Another long-time resident named Rosie Wang had reported seeing a large feline-like creature resembling a cat while driving home from Cairns to Port Douglas in 2018, along the Captain Cook highway, at night.

Mrs Street said the close encounter has easily become the highlight of their trip to North Queensland.

A resident in North Queensland claimed to have captured footage of an elusive big cat roaming in the South Mossman area on December 11, 2022.

“We come from rural Victoria and I have heard those rumours before about big cats roaming around the bush and to be honest I thought it was a load of nonsense but I take it back,” Mrs Street said.

“We were in the caravan so I wasn’t too scared.

“But I wouldn’t want to run into him on a hike though.”

Originally published as Tourists report black panther sighting north of Charters Towers