A couple was surprised to witness what they believe to be a large feline roaming through the countryside. Karen Carter and her husband were enjoying his birthday at a Devon hotel in Dartmouth when they spotted a big, black cat in a nearby field. The creature was observed moving through the vegetation before vanishing, but Karen managed to record a 36-second video of it.
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 over 60 alleged sightings of a panther-like creature in the area known as the Beast of Bodmin.
Karen expressed her astonishment, saying, “The video was taken from the hotel’s conservatory restaurant, which I had booked as a birthday gift for my husband. After enjoying the spa, we decided to go to the bar for a glass of prosecco.”
“A few sips in, I noticed movement on the golf course. We couldn’t investigate further as we were both in dressing gowns. Although we are avid wildlife enthusiasts, we were uncertain about the creature’s identity due to its size.”
Big cat specialist Rick Minter suggested that the animal could be a panther, explaining, “When analyzing the footage, we must consider the creature’s form, movement, behavior, and size.”
“The elongated body, substantial build, thick tail, and legs indicate a large cat that could be described as a ‘panther.’ In the UK, the primary candidate for a panther is a black leopard. The cautious movements and gait align with those of a large feline.”
“The size appears significant, but to confirm, a reference point like the width of the trees it passed by would be necessary. Many knowledgeable individuals contacting me believe this is likely a very large cat, possibly a black leopard,” he shared on his podcast.
