Panther sighting: big black cat spotted in Yarra Valley

There have been more sightings of a legendary but elusive huge cat believed to roam the Yarra Valley. This time, two people say they spotted a ‘black panther’ from their car on the outskirts of Healesville.

Cathy McPherson swears she and a co-worker saw a black panther stride across Long Gully Road in Healesville. Picture: Josie Hayden

There have been more sightings of a legendary but elusive black panther, this time on the outskirts of Healesville.

Mt Evelyn’s Cathy McPherson was driving along Long Gully Rd at 9.30am on November 12 when she and a colleague stopped the car to watch the black beast stride across a patch before disappearing in to the bush.

Ms McPherson said she would take a lie-detector test to prove she saw what she believes was a black panther.

ARE THERE BIG CATS IN AUSTRALIA? THIS MAN THINKS SO

KALLISTA COUPLE SPOT A PAIR OF BIG BLACK CATS NEAR TOOLANGI

DOZENS OF PEOPLE REPORT SEEING BIG CATS AROUND AUSTRALIA

The cat was only about a short distance away, almost a metre tall, with a long, “elegant” tail, she said.

“It was black as black, magnificent and definitely not a feral cat,” Ms McPherson said.

“We were both like, ‘Oh my god it’s a panther’. We were so shocked.

“I’d go on a lie detector to say it was a panther.”

Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader has for decades reported regular sightings of the illusive animal by awestruck travellers throughout the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

Some of the most recent sightings include Lilydale’s Kevin Manners, who spotted a black cat the size of a german shepherd near the O’Shannassy Aqueduct in Warburton East in April last year.

Prior to that a Kalorama couple saw a pair of the mysterious felines in the Toolangi bush in December 2016.

Despite a 2012 State Government report saying the existence of big cats in Victoria was highly unlikely, there continue to be sightings.

Australian Big Cat Research head Vaughan King said he would certainly be inclined to believe Ms McPherson because of the frequency of sightings in the area over the years.

Although Agriculture Victoria has received two reports of big cat sightings in the Yarra Valley and Gippsland in 2018, there will be no follow-up.

A spokeswoman, who did not want to be named, said all reports were considered, but no primary evidence was received that warranted a follow up.

MORE NEWS

COMMUNITY URGED, DON’T LEAVE IT TOO LATE

TRADERS USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHAME THIEVES

PUBLIC APPEAL TO FIND DOG STOLEN FROM BOARDING KENNELS