Hawkesbury Panther remains a Mystery

greg)Over the years I had met certain people who claimed (without first hand knowledge)he did release them. Glad this has come out.
Hawkesbury Panther remains a mystery
KATRINA VELLA
12/08/2009 3:00:00 PM


Former Notre Dame zoo owner Emmanual Margolin says he did not release the Hawkesbury panther.

AS MORE and more people come forward claiming to have seen or heard the panther,many are questioning how there came to be a panther loose in the Hawkesbury in the first place?

Those who believe the panther was released or escaped from Notre Dame zoo in Penrith can cross that possibility off their list. Former owner of the zoo, Emmanual Margolin insists there is no such thing as a panther on the loose in the Hawkesbury or surrounding areas in Sydneys north west.

Mr Margolin closed his zoo in Penrith nine years ago and denies ever releasing any of his animals into nearby bushland. He said there is no way a panther could exist or survive out of captivity for nine years.

This is a lot of nonsense. I had a zoo and the Government is very strict on how a zoo is run,he said. For a panther to just get out, you have to answer to a lot of questions. And there is no way a panther can just get out of a zoo.

Mr Margolin confirmed he once had a panther at the zoo, but said it died of old age prior to him selling the property. Mr Margolin said he sold both the property and the animals separately.

I have had a lot of experience with animals, I had a panther, lions, tigers, every animal and bird you could think of, he said.I love animals but it is very expensive to own and run a zoo and eventually I decided to sell the property.

For the full story pick up this week's edition of The Gazette.