multimedia, photos-and-video, Tasmanian panther sightings

Helena Croker and Graham Darby got the biggest shock of their lives last Saturday night when they saw a very large panther-like animal at Rosebery. The NSW couple, who are visiting Mrs Croker's daughter, were driving back from Burnie at about 7pm. "We were getting close to Rosebery," Mrs Croker said. "It was cold, there was misty rain and it was wet. There was no-one on the road. We were driving down the hill about a kilometre from the town. "Suddenly a huge black cat leapt from the bank onto the road. It was enormous - the length was amazing. Between the tail and the head it was almost the full lane width, and about a metre tall. "It was fast; it ran in front of us. It turned and faced the car. It had orangey eyes, but it was pitch black with no markings. "Like a typical cat, it came across in front of the car, spun its head around and we had the lights on high beam. "It had a look at us, and disappeared very quickly." Mrs Croker said she was frightened when she realised there was such a huge animal roaming near the town. "You do question your own judgement. Graham pulled the car up and said, "We have just experienced a black panther". "It left you speechless and wondering, and a surreal feeling." Mrs Croker said once the shock had worn off, they felt tremendously privileged. "Not many people would have seen this. This is a mystery cat. It's living in very, very thick bush in a very untouched area. It's hardly penetrable." Mrs Croker said when she reported the animal to the police, they were unimpressed and asked why she was calling them. West Coast Council Mayor Phil Vickers said he'd had no reports of an animal like that, but people in the area should keep their eyes peeled. "I've had no reports, but that doesn't mean that the people didn't see what they saw." Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary operations manager Darren Rumble said the only thing he could think of was a large feral cat. "You hear a lot of black cat panther stories, but not in Tasmania." What do you think about the sighting of a panther-like animal in the Tasmanian bush? Have your say, using the form below.

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