South Australia's mysterious 'big black cat'
For decades there have been reported sightings of a 'big, panther-like cat', in the forests and bushland of South Australia's south-east.
But lately, according to researcher, Michael Moss, the sightings have increased.
"About three weeks ago, another sighting by four shooters on their way to a shoot near the Coorong, just on the road in broad daylight, claimed to have seen a large black cat, about Doberman size, it’s tail was as long as its body," he told 7News.
"These guys have shot a lot of feral cats and they’re adamant that it’s a black panther."
"At first you think it’s crazy, but there is a history of sightings going back decades."
"I’ve taken out Freedom of Information requests with every state government in Australia on the mainland, and they’ve all got alleged sightings of big cats going back decades."
He's been tracking the 'panthers' for 15 years and says there have been sightings everywhere from Gippsland to South Australia's south-east.
It's led him a pine forest in Mount Gambier, where he has installed five infra-red cameras in the hope of finally seeing one of the creatures for himself.
"In this stretch of bush, there’s been about five sightings that I know of," he said, "I’m looking for any scratches on trees."
" And there are a lot of farmers (nearby) losing stock."
Although at this stage, his cameras have only captured deer, kangaroos and feral cats.
"It'd be very good to solve a mystery because until obviously you get a body or you get it at close range one one of these cameras, you're not really going to be able to prove it."
