- Deer stalker and ghillie Gordon Welsh captured images of a ‘hybrid panther’ in a field near Aberdeen
Wild big cats have long been rumoured to secretly stalk the British countryside.
But now remarkable footage has emerged which appears to show a ‘hybrid panther’ in a field only a few miles from Aberdeen.
Images shot by Gordon Welsh near the village of Blackdog apparently capture a large feline creature he describes as the size of a greyhound or bigger.
The 50-year-old, from Aberdeen, said: ‘I was just walking at the time and saw it limping – that’s what caught my eye. I was like “the hell is that?” but then I was like “it’s nae a cat, it’s too big”.’
The footage, shared on a dedicated Facebook group for Scottish big cat sightings, has sparked varied reactions. Some viewers confidently identified the creature as a black panther, emphasising its size, whereas others suggested it was a domestic cat, albeit a large one.
However, Mr Welsh, a ghillie, deerstalker and farm-hand, is confident he can differentiate between various cat species.
He said: ‘From the way it was moving, the tail size and that, it was slightly like a panther but it could be a crossbreed. I’ve seen them plenty of times. I’ve seen lynx, I’ve seen panthers, I’ve seen crossbreeds – they’re all over the place.’
Mr Welsh thinks that the animal may have been drawn to the area by the abundance of wildlife, including deer, rabbits and foxes.
Police Scotland has yet to confirm the sighting.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
