BREAKING NEWS
The North American Black Panther: Theories and Evidence
Date: March 12, 2023
What’s Happening:
The North American black panther, a mysterious and elusive creature, has been a topic of interest for many wildlife enthusiasts and cryptozoologists. In recent years, there have been numerous sightings and reported encounters with this large, dark-colored feline in various parts of North America. While many experts believe these sightings can be attributed to misidentifications of known species or hoaxes, others remain skeptical and propose alternative explanations.
Theories:
- Puma Escapes and Adaptation: Some experts suggest that large pumas, which are known to exist in North America, may have escaped or adapted to a darker coat color over time, leading to the reported sightings.
- Hybridization: Another theory proposes that a puma may have interbred with a leopard or other feline species, resulting in a darker-colored offspring.
- Leopard or Jaguar Influx: Some researchers believe that leopards or jaguars may have migrated from their natural habitats in Asia or South America, respectively, and established populations in North America.
Evidence:
- Photographic Evidence: There have been numerous photos and videos circulating online, purporting to show the North American black panther. While many of these images can be disputed, some remain unclear and spark debate.
- Eyewitness Accounts: Hundreds of people have reported seeing the creature, often describing it as large, dark-colored, and having a panther-like appearance.
- Trapping and Tracking: Wildlife experts and cryptozoologists have conducted trapping and tracking operations in areas where sightings have been reported, but so far, no conclusive evidence has been found.
The Search Continues:
The mystery surrounding the North American black panther remains unsolved, leaving many questions unanswered. While some believe it may be a hoax or misidentification, others remain convinced that this elusive creature is real. As the search continues, researchers and enthusiasts alike are eager to uncover the truth behind these enigmatic sightings.
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Stay Tuned for Updates:
We will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as new information becomes available. For now, the mystery of the North American black panther remains, sparking imagination and debate among cryptozoologists and the general public alike.
Part of the reason why I became interested in cryptozoology is that one of my relatives saw, on multiple occasions, a cat that she described as a 'black panther.' It had attacked her farm's livestock and was far too large to be a housecat or bobcat. It was also witnessed by two other locals, both of whom described it as a black cat that was larger than a German Shepherd.
In my opinion, the Black Panther is a lot more plausible than most cryptids:
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It's an established fact that mountain lions and jaguars live in North America, so we know big cats are here.
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A simple explanation, for those black panther sightings that aren't misidentifcations, is an out of place animal.
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There are large numbers of witnesses, who generally seem like normal rural people.
I've also noticed an interesting trend – black panther sightings often involve a pair of animals. A member of this sub claimed there were 'breeding pairs' in Missouri and primatologist Marc Van Roosmalen claimed that he heard a story about a pair of South American black cats, known as onça-canguçú, killing a girl. I've also heard of tales of Appalachian 'black panthers' that travel in pairs.
If these animals genuinely do have unique behavioral traits, such as long term pair bonding, that would add to the argument that they are a unique species.
One explanation that I like, which is admittedly not as likely as the out of place jaguar theory, is that the 'black panther' is a surviving version of Miracinonyx. The so called 'North American Cheetah' lived up to about 12,000 years ago and may have not been as Cheetah-like as once thought:
Recent studies, however, suggest that it was not specialized in chasing like the cheetah, as it retained retractable claws and was more robust, which would have diminished its ability to run fast compared to african cheetah.[1][18] Instead, it was more closely related to the cougar, and while M. trumani might have employed a hunting behavior without modern analogue, it may not have relied on speed as a cheetah does.
Perhaps Miracinonyx was more nocturnal than other big cats. It could have evolved that way to avoid larger competitors during the Pleistocene. A sleek black coat would be useful if it preferred to hunt in the dark (mountain lions are crepuscular). If this was the case, it may have lingered on longer than expected and it's similarity to the mountain lion would mean that most bones would be misidentified by laymen as coming from mountain lions.
Please share your own thoughts, evidence, etc.!
View info-news.info by Karina_Maximum284
Living in northwest Arkansas my father teaches bush crafting and survival classes and has most of my life
He swears up and down he has seen these along with cougars out in the woods both things they say we don’t have in our area.
Is it just me or those deers are either incredibly stupid either incredibly brave ?
Definitely one of if not the most plausible “cryptids”, its nearly certain that they also exist in the UK yet still havent been officially documented despite the small size compared to north america.
I feel like another very reasonable explanation is puma with melanism
There is zero chance a black panther has evolved in North America and stayed undiscovered even though literally every predator besides the coyote has been extricated through most of their range. How many thousands of cougars are shot every year, hit by cars etc, but nobody has harvested or found one of these? Also, we have never seen a cougar with the genetics to have a black coat. So it’s safe to say it’s not a new species and it’s not a cougar.
Take a zoomed in picture of a black house cat and it can look big too. I’m sure some people have had large black cats as pets and dumped them, but there is no evidence they are breeding in the wild or sustaining a population. IMO it’s 99% mistaken ID and maybe 1% of the cases are abandoned pets.
Could it not be a melanistic cougar?
Black feral hog looking at you.
No deer would even feed next to a bobcat.
The first one looks more like a bear to me, and nothing for scale in the second one.
Could it not be a black Jaguar? Their historic range includes the southern US.