A couple was surprised when they captured footage of what they believe to be a large feline roaming the countryside. Karen Carter and her husband were at a Devon hotel in Dartmouth celebrating his birthday when they saw a big black cat in a nearby field. The creature was observed moving through the vegetation before disappearing abruptly, but Karen managed to record it on video for 36 seconds.
The couple was only 200 meters away from the animal at the hotel, located about 50 miles from Bodmin Moor. Since the 1970s, there have been more than 60 reported sightings of a panther-like creature in the area, known as the Beast of Bodmin.
Expressing her shock, Karen mentioned, “The video was taken from the conservatory restaurant of the hotel. I had booked it as a birthday present for my husband. After a relaxing time at the spa, we decided to go to the bar for a glass of prosecco.”
“While enjoying a couple of sips, I noticed movement on the golf course. We couldn’t go out to investigate further because we were both in dressing gowns. Although we both love observing wildlife, we were uncertain about the identity of this creature due to its size.”
An expert on big cats, Rick Minter, suggested that the animal could be a panther. He noted, “Upon reviewing the footage, we need to assess the form, movement, behavior, and size. The elongated body, substantial bulk, thick tail, and legs indicate a large cat that could be described as a ‘panther.’ In the UK, a possible candidate for a panther is a black leopard. If two black leopards mate, their offspring are entirely black, indicating a breeding lineage of black leopards.”
“The cautious movements and gait align with those of a large cat. Large predators typically exhibit stealth and caution, even while roaming. The size seems significant, but to confirm, a reference point like the width of the trees it passed by would be necessary. Many experienced individuals who have contacted me believe this is likely a very large cat, possibly a black leopard,” he mentioned on his podcast.