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Terrified mum claims to have snapped panther prowling through Northampton estate
The photo shared by Clare Hodges which she claims she took near her home(Image: Clare Hodges / SWNS)
TL;DR
- Clare Hodges, a mum-of-eight, claims she saw a large black animal with a long tail near her home in Northampton.
- She managed to take a photograph of the creature before fleeing back into her house.
- Hodges is concerned for the safety of local children, particularly her autistic daughter.
- She noted that local cats had been absent for several days before the sighting.
- The sighting occurred near an area where neighbours had left out lamb for a fox.
- Hodges believes the animal may have come from Harlestone Firs Forest, where big cat sightings have been rumored.
- Some online commenters questioned the authenticity of the photograph, suggesting it might be AI-generated, but Hodges maintains it is real.
- A big cat expert commented that if authentic, the photo shows a large feline alarmingly close to homes.
- The incident comes weeks after another suspected big cat sighting in Northamptonshire.
- Northamptonshire Police confirmed receiving a report of a large cat sighting on August 6 but had not received a report from Hodges.