Report from Reuel Chisholm
Girls in panther ordeal
Source unknown, 18 th September 2003
Two young sisters have relived their terrifying confrontation with a "huge
panther" in a forest.
Josie Gaitens, 12, and eight year old Hannah came eye-to-eye with the
creature in the Black Isle Ross-shire.
The youngsters had been walking in the woods on the outskirts of their home
village Avoch.
Josie said, "We heard something in the bushes at the other side of the pond
and then something moved.
Then above the bushes I could see this huge black head.
At first I thought it was a big dog and then a monster of a cat. But it was
far too big for that. I said to Hannah, "It's a panther."
We just stayed there for a split second before running down a path I knew.
However the field was blocked by a huge clump of nettles, so we couldn't get
home that way, and we were too scared to go back."
The girls' dad Ian Gaitens, 55, said, "We are certain of what it was because
Josie has a very keen eye and recognises birds and animals."
Source unknown, 18 th September 2003
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