Unfurgettable: why the beast of Cumbria just won't go away Sightings of big cats around the Lake District have been going on for two decades. So who is putting them there? A black panther as not spotted in the Lake District. Photograph: Freder/Getty Images A black panther as not spotted in the Lake District. Photograph: Freder/Getty Images Tue 12 Jan 2021 12.02 EST Last modified on Wed 13 Jan 2021 06.21 EST Name: The beast of Cumbria. Age: Hard to say. Reports of a large cat roaming around the Lake District have been logged since at least 2003. Appearance: Big, black, shiny, panther-like, piercing yellow eyes, swishing tail, about 1.2 metres long.