Posted on 10/10/2023 11:58:18 AM PDT by Red Badger
Residents of Rapides Parish, La., are trying to solve the mystery of alleged black panther sightings in the area. Photo by maminounou/Pixabay.com
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Residents in a Louisiana community are attempting to solve the mystery of reported black panther sightings in the area.
Rapides Parish residents have reported seeing a large black feline near the levee banks of Lower 3rd Street in the Alexandria area.
"We were in a tent, and heard something that sounded like a baby crying at first," witness Ken Lee told WTNZ-TV. "And then, the sound turned to something else. I saw a big black cat, and I knew to mind my business from over there."
Lee said the animal was too large to have been a domestic cat.
Photographs posted online show what appears to be a big cat's paw print next to a size 13 sandal for scale.
Some locals said they are convinced there is a black panther in the area, while others suggested the source of the sightings could be a cougar with a genetic mutation causing it to have darker fur.
Black panther sightings have been reported in Rapides Parish before, with multiple alleged encounters reported in 2013.
Possibly a jaguarundi. There have been sightings in Jackson County Mississippi area for decades, but no official confirmation.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguarundi
Maybe Bagheera just wants to see how Mowgli is doing.
There are also black jaguars 🐆 as well.
JUST THE BEAR NECESSITIES IS ALL HE NEEDS.................
A pet which became too expensive to feed, set free. Does not YET look on humans as food but wait until she gets hungry!
Same in Alabama.
I saw one in East Central Oklahoma crossing the rail road tracks one night when I was coming home from work at about 11 P. Very sure of it. Beautiful animal.
“ Same in Alabama”
Yes. My brother lived in Hurley, close to the state line. He and his family heard them several times and saw one on a couple of occasions. The state wildlife folks deny it, probably to protect them, but they’re there. Some huge, deep swamp and woods north of Mobile. Lots of area and game to support most any big predator.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
