The Strange Beast of Sydenham

You may have heard, friends of Training Centre Raya London, about the alleged black panther that suddenly appeared near the town of Shumen. There have been several sightings, two of which were captured on video. The first video shows a large black animal freely walking on a path in the Shumen Plateau—larger than a dog, though the footage is unclear. In another video, taken nearby, a large creature with vague outlines is seen sprinting across a field.

Due to lack of official information, many speculations arose. One theory suggests that a wealthy Bulgarian man from Razgrad or Shumen, known for disregarding the law, smuggled the animal into the country for his private zoo, and it escaped. Others believe it was intentionally released after becoming too costly to maintain. Though the creature hasn’t been found, large predator tracks have been spotted in the soil.

A similar story unfolded not far away, in Sydenham, South London. Back in 2002, police began receiving reports of a large black creature attacking pets and even people. At first, it sounded like an urban myth. However, some accounts seemed strikingly believable. After the initial report, armed officers were sent to search the area, but found nothing.

Three years later, Sydenham resident Anthony Holder made another report. His story reached major outlets like The Guardian and Daily Mail. On March 22, 2005, Holder—a former military man—went outside at 2 a.m. to look for his cat and was attacked by a huge creature, around 5 feet long, with massive teeth. It hissed and growled, nearly injuring him. Concerned for his family inside the house, he fought the beast off, which then fled. He was left with scratches on his face and hands.

Paramedics arrived, and while being treated, Holder spotted the creature again. Armed officers with stun guns and tranquilizer rifles were dispatched. One officer claimed to have seen an animal “bigger than a Labrador,” but it was never captured. For safety, roads were closed, schools were locked down, and residents were urged to avoid nearby woods.

Another encounter occurred in August: journalist Helen Barrett and her family saw the creature near Crystal Palace and ran off. Sightings continued until 2015, with reports of pets being eaten by “something.” After that, reports ceased. Considering big cats live around 12–15 years, it’s possible the creature died naturally.

Later, Dr. Andrew Hemmings from the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester told the media that up to 500 large cats might have been released across the UK by then.

So—was Sydenham truly a hunting ground for a panther? No one knows for sure, but the many sightings over the years seem to suggest a yes.

Author: Iveta Radeva