85 replies to this topic

[HelenBarrett]

We were walking with our children today just before 4pm along the sloping woodland path that runs between Church Road and Auckland Road, when ahead of us and heading towards us on the path we saw a huge black cat, at least five foot long. It was a way ahead, and at first it saw us then disappeared. But was not at all frightened of us - almost immediately it reappeared and was heading towards us.

We shoved our 2 year-old back in his pushchair and turned and ran back up to Church Road. Has anyone else seen this creature, or were our eyes deceiving us?

[andreas]

Four years ago, this happened in Sydenham Park...
http://news.bbc.co.u...don/4370893.stm

Sounds as if you were sensible to scarper.

Ehm, is that the woods between Fox Hill and Stambourne Way? A bit close for comfort...

[HelenBarrett]

Yep, those are the woods. I hadn't read the Sydenham Park story, but vaguely remembered that big cats had been reported along the railway line so thought it best to run.

I reported it to the police. They took it seriously and went to investigate (they called me from the woods to establish where on the path we saw the cat)

[Nanazola]

Flippin eck - we sometimes take a stroll down there and I've been thinking it would make a good jogging route. Definitely not now! I hope the police will issue a public warning, it shouldn't just be VN users who are alerted to this.

[Redbunny23]

Lordy!

We back onto Stambourne Woods and have a 7 month old so I'm a bit worried now! Does anyone know how local wildlife would react if there is a big cat about? We usually have a couple foxes that like an afternoon nap in the garden but I haven't seen them for a few days. I was only thinking yesterday how quiet the wildlife has been around us for the last few days, it's normally packed with birds and beasties in our garden. Haven't heard too many alarm calls from the birds though which I would have expected.

I was looking forward to tackling the bottom of the garden today but maybe I'll take on the front instead! (Even though I am kind of assuming it would have moved on by now - I don't think there's a lot to occupy a big cat in Stambourne Woods)

[misspoddy]

Weirdly enough it seems that sightings of big cats aren't that rare in the UK. Who would have thought? Obviously people forget a panther is not just for Christmas...
Anyway, you might want to contact this guy: http://www.kentbigcats.blogspot.com/

[HelenBarrett]

Thanks Misspoddy. I've emailed Neil's blog. Redbunny23 - interested to hear what you say. I would have expected birds to go silent, too, but we could hear plenty of woodpigeons on our walk. That said, the cat was right at the bottom of the path towards Auckland Road - there's a fenced garden there with a punchbag inside, and it seemed to be prowling on the path near there.

Anyway, no plans to go walking in the woods for the time being.

[charlie]

Hi All - we back onto the Stambourne Woodland walk too. Nothing different at the Auckland Rd end. Foxes asleep stretched out on next door neighbour's lawn as per usual -birds behaving madly and nothing out of the ordinary - Although when we walked back from friends on Belvedere last night we did hear some rustling in the bushes next to the entrance to the woods - we didn't hang around. We have used the path quite alot over the years in the summer when coming back from a night out in the Triangle but not this year.

[Dazza]

Has their ever been a reported fatality due to Big cat ever in the UK ?

Dazza

[PersonalBest]

there was a story about a python gobbling a poor cat in the Sunday papers. Alas poor moggy.

[matt-h]

I live on Auckland Road and sometimes walk through Stambourne woods on the way to the Triangle. I've never used the other woods though, but I guess a big cat in one nearby wood means a big cat in ALL nearby woods.

I usually take a daily walk through the other woods on the east side, the ones that lead round to South Norwood lake. I've definitely felt like I was being followed before, hearing odd things in the undergrowth. Perhaps I need to re-think my daily walk and go somewhere a bit more exposed! Don't much fancy taking on a panther, semi domesticated or otherwise!

[Tambo]

Hmm,don't know if this has any relevence (and maybe I AM being paranoid) but I live on Chevening Rd & for the past,say,3 months I have heard a really disturbing animal sound coming from the backs of the gardens & more recently from the area at the back of the school.I asked a couple of neighbours if they had any knowledge of anyone keeping exotic pets or suchlike but no luck.One said they were convinced it was foxes but it doesn't convince me as it has gone on too long for it to be baby foxes and the other night I heard distinct crashing and branches breaking,not twigs,branches.If it had been foxes I feel that the noise of the crashing & breaking would not have been so loud.Has anyone else in the area heard these noises.
PS.I am aware that there are foxes in the old church grounds and they seem fairly tame & pretty much behave themselves.Just making a living type thing

[Axean]

You have got feel sorry for the deer thats just turned up in that wood. In comes into London, finds a small wood which it thinks it can have all to itself, but has no idea its picked the one location in London with a giant man eating panther currently on the loose.

Edited by Axean, 10 August 2009 - 09:00 PM.

[Norwood lad]

Axean, on 10 August 2009 - 08:59 PM, said:

You have got feel sorry for the deer thats just turned up in that wood. In comes into London, finds a small wood which it thinks it can have all to itself, but has no idea its picked the one location in London with a giant man eating panther currently on the loose.

Maybe the black panther/thingy has been stalking the deer. Surely it can't be a coincidence. One minute a deer pops in and the next the Palace Panther is seen sniffing around. Maybe they are one and the same thing. Whatever did happen to Manimal ?? Anybody seen a hawk recently

[nickyb-inthecp]

Norwood lad, on 10 August 2009 - 09:11 PM, said:

Whatever did happen to Manimal ?? Anybody seen a hawk recently

LOL!