Lithgow Panther Takes A Nice Relaxing Stroll Along The Abandoned Great Western Highway

The closure of the Great Western Highway has at least benefited one local resident, as a notoriously shy Blue Mountains identity makes the most of the lack of amateur photographers to take a relaxing stroll along the abandoned stretch of road.

Known as a reclusive and introverted feline, The Lithgow Panther, is now free to enjoy the great outdoors without having to keep up the urban myth that it may or may not exist.

“Honestly, the legs are a bit knackered ha ha” said the camera-shy big cat.

“But it was good to get out and about. Get some steps up outside the cave, ya know”.

Originating in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia, the melanistic leopard has long remained the centre of urban myths in the outskirts of Western Sydney through to the tablelands of Central West NSW.

The rumours of a wild panther living in the dense foliage surrounding the town of Lithgow has persisted for many decades now, with the most commonly accepted theory that it had escaped from a touring circus and successfully evaded humans well enough for the mythology to never be technically confirmed.

Until now, it was not public knowledge that the Lithgow Panther could talk to humans, but after shaking off the agoraphobia, the fabled kitty was feeling a bit more social than usual.

“When I heard the cars suddenly stop. I thought crikey, they must've cottoned onto that big crack on the Convict Bridge. I was just waiting for the day that the whole thing slide down the mountainside" the Panther told our reporters.

"It’s so nice to be able to catch a few rays without humans taking fleeting videos of me on a Motorolla Jazz. More of it, please”.

Presumably, the “it” that the Lithgow Panther is referring to is arrogant government neglect, which may not sit well with the larger voting block in the forgotten rural towns nearby.

But for the time being at least, this colossal stuff up has been good news for local, who is making the most of enjoying some time in the Autumn sun.