LEGEND says one or several big black cats have been seen roaming in the Strathbogie Shire.

The panthers would have been brought by the American troops during World War II as mascots and released in the wild as they left.

The panthers would have given birth to cubs to ensure the survival of their feline dynasty.

But is that real or is it more like Arthur Conan Doyle’s tale “The Hound of the Baskervilles”?

The Euroa Gazette’s reporter, Clemence Carayol, asked Euroa locals if they had really seen the beast.

Euroa local Zelma Collier said “don't doubt it, the night has eyes”.

Lorraine Lease was adamant and said “there have been numerous supposed sightings of this animal in many parts of our state including The Grampians, many different parts of Gippsland and the Dandenongs”.

“Even when these sightings are investigated, no evidence has ever been found,” Ms Lease said.

“It’s definitely just a myth.”

Brendan Paterson said that of course the panther was just a myth, just like the Pink Panther.

Matthew Charles Pickett agreed; the boring truth is that there is no such thing as a panther around here.

Justus John Hagen said that true or not, the legend of the panther was “a lovely mystery”.

For others, there is no doubt: it is real and they know where it sleeps.

Ambie Louise Hogan knows someone whose emu got attacked by a gigantic black cat.

Yvonne Devanny said she saw the panther with her own eyes.

“I saw one several times while riding my horse mustering sheep way back in 1970,” Ms Devanny said.

“They have been seen many times by family members over the years.”

Same for Leigh Eeles, who claims he has seen the feline two times in Ruffy.

Roger Morgan said his family also saw a number of times the panther in Ruffy “with its shiny black fur and long slinky tail”.

Kevin Brodie said he had seen one from 50 metres away.

"I sat and watched it for some time," Mr Brodie said.

"It looked black from a distance but up close had feral striations, a boxy head and triangle ears with an aggressive looking jaw and matching teeth.

"The tail was long and thick that swept up at the end and its size was much larger than a sheep dog.

"I have been on a number safaris in Africa and this was an impressive cat."

Lisa Mooney said she got traumatised by hearing these stories as a child.

Moss McCallum said he saw one in the summer of 2009 in the Strathbogie State Forest.

“I was with my dad and told him I’d just seen a very big black cat…I didn’t know about the panthers yet,” he said.

Some even think they have seen a bigger animal than the panther.

Jeff Wilson, another local, thinks it’s not the panther he sighted.

“I have seen something that looks like a black bear, don't think it was a panther,” Mr Wilson said.

Jeanette Tout-Monteith recalls that when she was camping at Buchan, a farmer down the road had cattle with their throats opened.

“Vivid like it was yesterday; This was in the early 70s,” Ms Tout-Monteith said.

Shane Drysdale on the other hand sees the panther on a daily basis; but it’s a drawing.

“I see one every time I drive to Strathbogie, it’s painted on the Telstra shed on Spring creek road,” Mr Drysdale said.

“And that is the only panther in the country let alone in Strathbogie.”