Black Panther Possibly Spotted in Vineland

VINELAND, N.J. - April 30, 2007 (WPVI) -- Zoe Paraskevas believes the animal in the photograph is a black panther.

Over this past weekend, she and at least six of her Old Farm Drive neighbors have spotted the animal roaming the woods behind their Vineland homes.

"We're scared because it keeps coming closer and closer to the house," said Paraskevas. "I've had my camera on my dining room table I could take a snapshot."

"It was definitely not a house cat. It was large and definitely some kind of feline," said Felicia Fiocchi.

Paraskevas said back in October her son told her he spotted a black panther. She didn't believe him until she saw the animal in March.

"I tell my parents. I tell neighbors. They say there's no way it could be a panther," she said.

But Paraskevas showed her pictures to animal control.

"She comes back and looks at my pictures and she started making phone calls to wildlife officials," said Paraskevas.

Vineland Police have confirmed to Action News that they've had reports of panther sightings in the area, but so far officers have not spotted the animal.

Residents said with so many children on the block, they want the animal caught.

(Copyright 2007 by Action News and 6abc. All Rights Reserved.)

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•