'Black panther' spotted in field near Carlisle - claim

By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 11:55, Thursday, 16 February 2012

A bus driver has spoken of the moment he spotted what he believes may have been a large black panther in a field a few miles north of Carlisle.

Have your say

The pawprint is a dog,I think, as cats (of all sizes) have retractable claws and this print clearly shows claw marks. However, it is possible that there is some sort of unusually large cat around - even if it isn't a "big cat", panther etc - have a look on the internet at a "Kellas cat" - it's a hybrid of the domestic cat and a Scottish wildcat - certainly big enough to make someone think they have seen an unusual species. They crop up now and again, and are usually black. Plenty of food in most areas of the country for cats like this - rats, birds, rabbits etc.

Posted by midge on 23 February 2012 at 11:26

Shame on the evening news and star for reporting and printing such utter complete nonsense.

Posted by ian h on 23 February 2012 at 08:54

"frightened of the possibility of something a little bit 'different'"... no not at all. Some of us are realists, some of us are fantasists. GET REAL. Maybe there is a loch ness monster and wooly mammouth out there aswell !!!

Posted by ian h on 23 February 2012 at 08:46

They disbelieved the farmer in Scotland when he said he'd seen a puma until he trapped one in a cage - the celebrated Felicity who spent the rest of her life at Highland Wildlife Park. But the footprint is 100% definitely a dog print - claws showing, wrong shape for a cat.

Posted by Mark Williams on 23 February 2012 at 08:40

Blah blah blah

I saw a panther

blah blah blah

No you didn't.

Posted by Brian on 23 February 2012 at 08:33

I cannot believe how many narrow minded people there is out there after reading all these comments?stuck in their little 'bubble' of a life,frightened of the possibility of something a little bit 'different' other than getting up,going to work and coming home to the tv, now YOU get a life!sad

Posted by lisa on 22 February 2012 at 23:08

Oh this is very sad. People really do believe they have seen panthers I don't doubt. Big paw prints must be accompanied by spray or poo if these creatures are real. Hair, evidence - and in any even 1 x paw print ... can these creatures hop? I once saw an amazing sight - it looked like the weirdest bird ever .. and it was ... it was a heron! When we see things we don't expect to see, our minds try to make sense of it. Get a life!

Posted by Jaye on 22 February 2012 at 21:51

@ hate Haters .

Buy me a ticket to Africa then . ;)

Posted by Mark on 22 February 2012 at 16:41

I would love to see all you haters actually face one of these.

Posted by hate HATERS on 22 February 2012 at 13:07

i was coming home from the river nere stainton and yes i seen the black panther in a lonning i had my phone and yes i could of taken a photo BUT i was soo shocked to see it i just stood there i never reported it cos i knew no one would belive me and the people i did tell laughed .Laugh all you like i know what i saw and it was daylight people can say and think what they like but i dont care i seen it.

Posted by debra on 22 February 2012 at 11:24