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Is this a black panther?

10:12am Thursday 22nd March 2007

comment Comments (72)   Have your say »


ANOTHER panther-type cat has been spotted in Trowbridge.

Matthew Finch, of Blease Close, was shocked to see the animal in a field behind Airsprung Beds in Canal Road as he left for work at 7.30am yesterday morning.

The assistant branch manager at West Wilts Wholesale Electrical, said: "As I walked out the door I thought hang on a minute'.

"It looked like a cat but it was a lot bigger. It was definitely a cat. It walked like one and had its big black tail in the air.

"I've heard stories before of people from Airsprung seeing it. It was really amazing and quite exciting. It's not something you see every day."

Mr Finch took a photograph of the creature with his mobile phone and contacted his girlfriend to take a picture from the bedroom window.

After resting a while in the field the cat, which Mr Finch said was the size of a Labrador, stalked off.

Similar sightings of large cats have been made over the years and many believe the sightings are proof there are big cats living in the wild in Britain.

Have you seen this black beast? Let us know by clicking on the Comment button.

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Your Say YourWiltshire Times

Mark, Chippenham says...
10:40am Thu 22 Mar 07

There are never any clear pictures of things like this are there.

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Thoma, Holt says...
10:44am Thu 22 Mar 07

Are you sure that's not just a rook?????

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Dave, Trowbridge says...
11:09am Thu 22 Mar 07

Looking at the size of the supposed panther against the lumps of grass, it doesn't seem very big. I think it is a large moggy, but in fairness the photo isn't clear enough/ I won't be walking in that field though - just in case !

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matt, trowbridge says...
11:16am Thu 22 Mar 07

The creature was about 200 yards away from me when i took the picture , it was also sat down in the grass , so this will give you an idea of the size , it was not a large domestic cat.

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A black Labrador, Near airsprung says...
11:25am Thu 22 Mar 07

Is there a random drug testing policy at West Wilts Wholesale Electrical!

Just wondered!

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Richard, Bath says...
11:29am Thu 22 Mar 07

Are you seriously supposed to guage from that picture whether that's a panther? I've seen rabbits that look massive because they are out of perspective in 'dead ground' like this field. The watcher may have beleived it was 200 yards away when in fact it was 20, the mind can trick your senses.

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Rob, westbury says...
11:42am Thu 22 Mar 07

It must be a panther.....if you look hard enough you can also clearly see a FLYING PIG!!!

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sue, wiltshire says...
11:45am Thu 22 Mar 07

I think the cat was waiting for the burger van to open at wickes! He sould have gone to specsavers!

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airsprung, trowbridge says...
11:59am Thu 22 Mar 07

a number of people here claimed to have seen a large cat like creature wondering through the fields near the canal , so it is possible , but everybody is entitled to an opion , you shouldn't dismiss it if you cannot prove otherwise.

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Nick, Wilts says...
12:02pm Thu 22 Mar 07

LOST -
Please help, i have lost my guinea pig. its black and was last seen strutting down Canal Road. Any further info on sightings would be much appreciated!
if you see him he responds to the Pink Panther theme tune!!

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Martk, Chippenham says...
12:06pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Not that i'm going to dismiss the idea of your guinea pig strutting down a road, why would it respond to that song?

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Nick, Wilts says...
12:12pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Because for some unknown reason my pig thinks he is a panther.... this has made me think that maybe he is right!

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Wiltshire Watcher, Swindon says...
12:19pm Thu 22 Mar 07

And Elvis is alive and well in Devizes too!!! Wake Up Wiltshire!!!!!

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Mark, Chippenham says...
12:22pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Elvis is here too? Awesome. Although I do feel awake I must say.

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Mike, wiltshire says...
12:23pm Thu 22 Mar 07

I totally back up this sighting, i'm not at all suprised. it wasn't long ago that i was nr Warminster and seen a LION, then in the same area i seen a rhino and a zebra!!

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Bruce, Near airsprung says...
12:24pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Airsprung wrote "a number of people here claimed to have seen a large cat like creature wondering through the fields near the canal"

Yeah, thats because most the residents who live near airsprung are either alchoholics or pikeys.

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anon, 594-496 says...
12:29pm Thu 22 Mar 07

more rubbish from the wiltshire times !

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anon, melksham says...
12:35pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Its not halloween or 1st april yet is it?

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anon, Wiltshire says...
12:42pm Thu 22 Mar 07

***MISSING***

MUTATED BLACK RAT FROM PORTON DOWN. IT IS DANGEROUS, HIDES IN GRASS AND PRAYS ON UNSUSPECTING EMPLOYEES OF WEST WILTSHIRE WHOLESALE ELECTRICALS.

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andy, wilts says...
12:50pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Nick, my wife found ur rat,sadly its in a box burried in my garden. this most defently is a panther.

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andy, wilts says...
1:02pm Thu 22 Mar 07

anon, this might actually be yours, can do post and package for £5 if u wish. refunds not avalible though. RIP the black rat 19/03/07

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Mark, Chippenham says...
1:04pm Thu 22 Mar 07

You could use the dead rat as bait to lure out the panther. Unless the dead rat is actually what is shown in the photo above.

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andy, wilts says...
1:11pm Thu 22 Mar 07

pehaps we will catch the panther J-walking as the black rat got dragged a few hundred yards up canal road before being discuvered. hes bound to have left a scent!

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christine shaw, trowbridge says...
1:25pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Think that little speck must be a cub, you know what that means...... there are 2 REALLY BIG ones out there somewhere!!!!!

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marvin, longleat says...
1:29pm Thu 22 Mar 07

we did infact have a large cat go missing in august 2002, but sighting have been at clay hill in warminster, this is miles away but maybe darren the panther is exploring different environments, keep it real uncle marv

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Kris, Trowbridge says...
1:33pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Come on people, Give Matt a break. We cannot tell from the pic what it is & how big but when I was a teenager on a night prowl in the Wiltshire area even the police & army were out in force due to a sighting of a big cat. It aint impossible & maybe soon we will have some definate proof but don't dismiss this as we weren't there.

Hugs n bubbles.

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Nick, Wilts says...
1:39pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Andy,
you gormless fool, i am missing i guinea pig not a rat, incinerate the rat and stop parading it around town on the end of your white stick, everyone knows its you thats giving off the "scent"!!!

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andy, wilts says...
1:47pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Nick, im going to hunt you down!

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Grandad festa, Warminster says...
1:48pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Uncle Marv,
I have inside sources and i understand that the escaped cat story was a cover up, why don't you tell people what really happened!
you stamped on the loud pedal instead of the brake and mowed the poor sod down with your stripey safari jeep!!!

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Panther, Field In Trowbridge says...
1:53pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Yes, It is a fair cop. I am indeed the panther in question and I do live in a field near Trowbridge. I promise I am friendly and I don't bite, well not hard anyway!

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uncle marv, warminster says...
1:54pm Thu 22 Mar 07

this is totaly rediculas. rumors is all you have heard. the jeeps are resticted to speed limits across the park. your source is unreliable.

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Grandad festa, warminster says...
1:58pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Marv,
This is easily settled, going by your spelling the court rules you are not allowed out of you padded white room let alone drive!!

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Pingu, wilts says...
1:59pm Thu 22 Mar 07

If thats the size of a labrador then those trees should be 500ft tall and visible all over Wiltshire.
Bet theres some short haired black tom watching with interest the stalkers now descending on the area

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Sarah, Trowbridge says...
2:19pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Crazy.................

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Amused!!, Westbury says...
2:48pm Thu 22 Mar 07

oh my god!!that is the funniest thing i have ever read!!!its just made my afternoon!!

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Boss Cat, says...
2:50pm Thu 22 Mar 07

These comments are getting very silly. If this panther isn't pounced on soon then the consequences could be quite catastrophic and just think of all the paw people that live in the territory. Lets hope we see a purrfect end to this cat story.
p.s. Mark, you should be working!!

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Mark, Chippenham says...
3:04pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Gary I am at work, and the puns in that comment are aweful i'm sorry. Plus you should be working too.

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top cat, wiltshire says...
3:45pm Thu 22 Mar 07

I think we need to get officer charlie dibble in to sort this one out!Or if you pre-fur it you could get postman pat to catch it in his van it could be a play mate for jess!

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Anon, says...
3:48pm Thu 22 Mar 07

You lot are nuts on here but it is making brilliant reading, you've made me giggle anyhow. Keep it up

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Mark, Chippenham says...
3:51pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Thank you anon, its people like you that make us keep going, well that and the fact the story is completely stupid in the first place.

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anon, says...
3:55pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Ive just realised my pyjama case has gone missing off my bed if anyone finds it please let me know. It`s desciption: Its about the size of a labrador(ive got a weight problem!) and it`s black and looks like a panther cat!!!

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Purr-cy, Tabbyland says...
4:02pm Thu 22 Mar 07

I take it Mark and Gary are out looking for **** tonight then....

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Jamie, Trowbridge says...
4:25pm Thu 22 Mar 07

James please can you ring your mum and find out if chester the cat is missing.

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michael, trowbridge says...
5:06pm Thu 22 Mar 07

popey is matty got your cat dude today

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michael, trowbridge says...
5:08pm Thu 22 Mar 07

james matty has found your cat chester

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anon, trowbridge says...
5:09pm Thu 22 Mar 07

i think you are all pathetic !! wots wrong with a big black **** !

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anon, trowbridge says...
5:10pm Thu 22 Mar 07

As they said in TOPGUN ," yeha ,chester's dead !"

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Tony, Westbury says...
6:22pm Thu 22 Mar 07

It looks like a black hamster if you walk through that field tuck the bottom of your trousers in your socks or it will shoot straight up your trouser leg.

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Harold, Westbury says...
6:39pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Mark wrote:
There are never any clear pictures of things like this are there.
There are never any clear pictures because if someone had happened to be there with a reasonable lens they would have realised it was Jasper, the neighbours cat, and never sent it to the Wiltshire Times.

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James's mum, Trowbridge says...
7:55pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Chester just came home carrying the labrador

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Lord Bath, Longleat says...
8:20pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Has anyone seen my pet panther, Howard ?
He was last seen chewing on a tourist here in my estate, but he has not been back for tea - I had a West Wilts Wholesale employee ready for him to try. He will come if you call him, but is particularly fond of having his picture taken, although often he gets mistaken for something alot smaller. Please don't mention size to him though - He is very sensitive as all his mates call him Ratty.

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The Pink Panther, Wilts Wholesale not West Wilts says...
9:36pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Good one Matty who seen the big catty, best laugh we have had in Wilts Wholesale for ages.






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Anon, Westbury says...
11:32pm Thu 22 Mar 07

I have been watching this thread with great amusement... some of the comments are hilarious!! We are discussing this very topic on our town forum so I have quoted some of your comments for the comedy value!!!
www.westburytownforums.com

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CANT SAY TO MUCH, TROWBRIDGE says...
9:51am Fri 23 Mar 07

THATS NOT A CAT ITS RICKY TROTT

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Jamie, Trowbridge says...
9:53am Fri 23 Mar 07

IT CANT BE RICKY ITS NOT GINGER

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michael, TROWBRIDGE says...
9:54am Fri 23 Mar 07

AND ITS TO BIG TO BE RICKY TROTT

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ShellznMelv, says...
10:07am Fri 23 Mar 07

HEY ANDY THATS NOT A BLACK RAT OR A GUINEA PIG ITS MYU LOST OVA SIZED FURRY TURTLE IF FOUND HE WILL ANSWER TOTHE NAME DONNITELLO PLEASE DROP ROUND MY FLAT PS IF U FIND THE BANDANNA IT WUD B VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

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michael, TROWBRIDGE says...
10:37am Fri 23 Mar 07

JIM DONT BE TO HARD ON RICKY FOR PLAYING WITH THE BIG CAT BOYS

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michael, TROWBRIDGE says...
12:32pm Fri 23 Mar 07

YOU SURE THATS NOT RICKY TROTT BECAUSE IT LIKE TO ME HE IS EATING A MCDONALDS

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anon, says...
1:45pm Fri 23 Mar 07

I reckon its someone looking for the toad signs that were pinched!!

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catty, fieldy says...
2:25pm Fri 23 Mar 07

I once coughed up a hairball bigger than that

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Tweety Pie, Commercial says...
4:02pm Fri 23 Mar 07

Matthew thought he saw a puddy cat....I did I did I did

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Jim, Chippenham says...
4:51pm Fri 23 Mar 07

I've got my misses to throw a saucer out of the upstairs window so I can snap it on my phone. Then I'll phone the papers!

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boots, cornwall says...
6:58pm Fri 23 Mar 07

oh my god has the beast of bodmin transfered to airsprung what are we cornish going to look for now in summer!!!

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Caleb, Colerne says...
8:59pm Sat 24 Mar 07

Hi me and my friend have seen lots of paw prints and some are very big and look like panther paw prints.We have put plaster over one paw print.We also sometimes see movements
in the bushes and hear strange noises.

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Mandy, Devizes says...
1:08pm Mon 26 Mar 07

Is the picture downloadable anywhere so we can have a proper look, cant see a think on that little picture. Maybe a 2nd picture of something in the same place would help judge size. A little bit serious i know considering the other comments. Keep em coming though, kept me amused.

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Gem, Hilperton says...
1:23pm Tue 27 Mar 07

I don't think you have a right to judge Matt until you have been in his position.
Most of the residents in Trowbridge are complete muppets (you can tell just by the appalling spelling and grammar in their comments).
I have seen the creature twice walking through my fields in Hilperton (it is slightly larger than a Labrador and distinctively curls its tail towards the end). I have also heard it in the middle of the night whilst camping beside the river. This photo may not be of the actual creature but it certainly exists.

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Mark, Chippenham says...
3:32pm Tue 27 Mar 07

No one is judging Matt, the only thing that was being questioned was whether or not that black lump was infact a large wild beast or as some other posts have suggested rats or guinea pigs. Ok and maybe a few off topic things but hey.

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darren, trowbridge says...
11:01pm Wed 28 Mar 07

drove past the crown last night in trowbridge couldnt believe what i seen im sure it was matt coming out with his new pet i wondered why the pub was empty with the size of the pet hes got

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jason, trowbridge says...
4:04pm Thu 29 Mar 07

look i used to live in kent and there were reports on this panther story but im sorry but its people with boring lives that jus want to get noticed in the future if you want to make up a story make sure its beleivable please take my advise it will do the world alot better

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sarah, trowbridge says...
10:04pm Sun 8 Apr 07


Well I really did see what looked like a panther aout five years ago in a field in Warminster as I ravelled back on the train. I am certain also a friend of mine saw it and that is John Syme. That is the truth. I have never heard of two of them being seen together so I think its rather sad if its on its own and hope its happy but not dangerous.

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Naomi, Sussex says...
10:05am Mon 9 Apr 07

I am on holiday here, I am not a panther, this story is the funniest I have read in ages - loving the comments too. Went to the fun fair last night in Trowbridge, and saw many panthers there as prizes! Maybe ask if anyone lost a prize?

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Comments are closed on this article.

The animal photographed in a field in Trowbridge? The animal photographed in a field in Trowbridge?

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