Claire Greensmith, a 41-year-old midwife, was hiking near the Lake District landmark of Colwith Falls when she spotted a large black creature that she believed may have been a panther. This is not the first time someone has reported seeing such an animal in the area; in 2013, Sharon Larkin found a distinctive paw print that was noticeably larger than that of a cat or even a large dog. If this big cat is living in the Lake District, it would be an exciting discovery!
Yesterday Mrs. Greensmith, 41, explained how she was enjoying the stunning views of Colwith Falls near Ambleside when she spotted the creature near the nearby River Friar.
She said: “It was completely unexpected. It wasn’t what I was looking for, but I saw what looked like a big black cat with a long tail.
“It was too big to be an ordinary cat, and it wasn’t a dog. It was on the river’s other side, so that I couldn’t get a perfect look at it.”
Mrs. Greensmith, who lives in Kendal, Cumbria, with her husband and two children, said she would love to know if anyone else had seen the creature.
“I’m not sure what it was, but it was something big and black,” she said. “I’m curious to know if anyone else has seen it.”
In 2013, 41-year-old Sharon Larkin, a mother of four, found a distinctive paw print that was noticeably larger than that of a cat or even a large dog.
Sharon said: “I’m sure it was a leopard or black panther. It looked about the same size as a large Alsatian dog or Labrador. The first thing I noticed was its yellow eyes, piercing and clear, and the long tail it was waving.”
Do you think there may be a big cat living in the Lake District? Have you ever spotted anything unusual while hiking or walking in the area?
