Further sightings of Cannock Chase Panther

Jul 21 2009

Hawks Green residents have been told to be on their guard after more sightings of the Chase Panther near their homes.

Eyewitnesses describe seeing a large cat-like creature roaming near empty units near to housing on Hemlock Way.

The warnings come at a time when Chasefolk have spotted the animal as far afield as Norton Canes.

Hednesford student Edward Phillips claims he saw the panther lurking around the units of the former Maymies nightclub in the early hours of July 9 when making his way home.

At first, Edward said he thought he was seeing a deer, but changed his mind when he saw the way the animal moved between the units.

“I have always taken these stories of sightings with a pinch of salt,” Edward said.

“I have heard people say they have seen some sort of a big cat around here before, but I always thought it was nonsense.

“But I know what I saw.

“It was a large black animal and it moved very quickly. It had its belly very low to the ground and sort of slunk its way around.

“I’m not saying it was a panther or anything like that, but it certainly was not anything I’ve encountered before.”

Edward said he was concerned at how near the animal was to houses.

“There is a housing estate just right over the road from where I saw this thing,” he said.

“If I lived there I would be very concerned about how close it was to the people of those houses.

“Maybe somebody should monitor the site to pick up some kind of evidence of its existence and whereabouts.

“It would lay to rest so many myths if we had some evidence of the cat’s existence.

“I know what I saw was not a deer - it looked like a cat. But I can’t tell you what sort of beast it was.”

Big cat expert Neil Arnold, of Kent Big Cat Research, said he was in no doubt panthers and other big cats are loose in the UK.

“It’s time the public, especially sceptics, realised that large exotic cats are nothing unusual in our countryside any more - and that the only mystery is that they’ve become a mystery,” he said.

Mr Arnold claims the cats have gradually been released over decades from private collections and travelling menageries resulting in today’s population.

“These cats are not a threat to humans, as there is so much prey out there in the wilds, from rabbits to deer and from birds to livestock, but such animals must be taken seriously,” he said.