A British couple was left astonished after spotting what they believe to be a black panther while kayaking on the Llangollen canal in Denbighshire, North Wales. David Davis and his wife, Natalie, were enjoying a leisurely day out when they caught sight of the mysterious creature roaming the Welsh countryside. The dramatic sighting occurred last week, on 16th October, during their return journey at around 5pm. David, 48, from Willenhall, West Midlands, described the moment he first laid eyes on the potential black panther, standing about 400 metres away at the top of a field.
At first, David was puzzled by the sight of a large cat in the distance. As he paddled closer, he steadied his kayak for a better view and was stunned to see what appeared to be a black panther. The creature was standing halfway up a farm gate and seemed to be the size of a large Alsatian dog, with a clear side-on profile. Excited by the sighting, David alerted his wife, who also confirmed the presence of the big cat. Despite their efforts to film the creature, the footage captured from a distance showed a large black animal with a long tail moving across the field.
The couple observed the mysterious creature for a few minutes as it moved in a zig-zag pattern before disappearing into the forest. Rick Minter, host of the Big Cat Conversations podcast, analysed the footage and shared his insights. While acknowledging the size of the cat in the video, Minter pointed out that it seemed more in line with a larger domestic cat rather than an adult black leopard, commonly described as panthers. He mentioned that the region has a history of credible big cat sightings and encounters, with some incidents involving nervous reactions from dogs in the area.
The sighting of the potential black panther in the Welsh countryside has sparked curiosity and speculation among locals and wildlife enthusiasts. While the true identity of the creature remains a mystery, the encounter has added to the folklore of elusive big cats roaming the UK countryside. These sightings serve as a reminder of the captivating and unexpected wonders of nature that can be found even in the most unlikely places.
This sighting of a possible black panther in the Welsh countryside has intrigued many and raised questions about the presence of such elusive creatures in the UK landscape. Wildlife experts and enthusiasts continue to study and investigate these sightings to unravel the mysteries of the British countryside and its diverse wildlife population.