Panther sighting at Foster in Victoria

Panther sighting at Foster in Victoria Author Blondie
Date/Time 07 Oct 2008 9:10:35pm
Subject Panther sighting at Foster in Victoria
After seeing current affair tonight with the puma sightings I decided I would tell others about my experience with the big panther. I was heading off to work for a local farmer a couple of kms out of town, it was about 8 am in the morning and the sun was shinning. I was about 2-3 km out of town heading up the south Gippsland highway when I spotted the panther on an old unused road near Lunstroms Road. I immediately turned my car around and went back past it, at about 70-80 kmh and turned around again a little further and came back slowly. It was just sitting in the sun and as soon as it realised I was going to stop it turned around and took off.
To me it looked like its head was 90cm to a metre from the ground in a sitting position. I am 100% it was a panther as I have always had a fascination of panthers and have pictures of them and have seen them close up at zoo's and even been licked by one in Leongatha when a trainer brought one to the local show. A panther is totally different to a cat in build and gait especially when they are running. When it took off it took off with great speed with its legs right under it like a leopard and its tail was very long, as long as its body with a distinct curl at the end when running.
I have talked to others that live near by and they have seen it too. A local farmer from Hoddle, 7-8km from Foster, believes his big horse was attacked by the panther. I saw the man at the cattle dog trails in Welshpool and notice three or four big gashes either side of the horse's rump up near its hips. I asked him what happened to it and that is when he mentioned the panther and it certainly looked authentic. The horse was in a clean paddock with no fences or trees that could possibly make these marks. It looks as though some thing had pounce on it from behind.
I had forgotten about the incident till now as no one believes me when I tell them that I have seen it. I would like to hear from more people that have seen it. Someone should set up some public meetings in some of the areas where they have been sited.
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