Mystery creature with 'yellow eyes' caught on camera roaming rural Australia

A mysterious black cat-like creature has been spotted roaming rural Western Australia and has some people convinced that it's a black panther or cougar.

The animal was captured on camera by Barry Lesley, who was on a camping trip with friends in the rural Katrine area near Northam, east of Perth, when they saw the mysterious animal.

"The tail really struck me as unusual – it was pretty big, we were a good 150 metres away," he told GWN7 News.

He says the creature was larger than a normal feral cat and its tail was thicker than usual. It also had wide set yellow eyes.

Mr Lesley was reviewing his video and to his surprise saw another cat-like creature appear.

"I noticed to the side there was a much larger cat and that's what the first cat was looking at," Mr Lesley said. "It was bloody big."

• Parents plea for answers after son burned alive in 'deliberately lit' fire

• Government orders unprecedented four million car recall to fix exploding airbags

• Woolworths pub workers 'rewarded for monitoring pokie players'

The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions told GWN7 News the animal is not a panther or cougar, saying there are none in the area and it's most likely a feral cat but locals aren't convinced.

Rumours have been swirling for quite some time that panthers or cougars live in the area.

"I didn't realise so many people have seen them before - this is my first experience," Mr Lesley said.

In 2016, locals in Capel in WA believed it was a cougar that was attacking and killing sheep.