The Lithgow panther mystery is no closer to being solved with the NSW Department of Agriculture protection unit dropping its case.

After a three-year inquiry into panther sightings across NSW, which included analysis of faeces samples, the department has stamped the evidence inconclusive. Lack of funding has caused the department to abandon the search. Graeme Eggleston, project manager for agricultural protection, said despite video evidence, opinion still remained divided over panther claims and there was little more the department could do.

Mr Eggleston said the panther search had been abandoned to allow the department to pursue other threats against livestock.

"It doesn't mean one thing or the other, there was nothing proven," Mr Eggleton said.

"There's a fair amount of circumstantial evidence to suggest that there may be [a panther].

"But there's a range of pest animals in the wild and again this is just one perceived animal which may or may not be attacking livestock.

"But there's nothing more that we could do."

Analysis of faeces found throughout the search had proven inconclusive, Mr Eggleston said, with the department unable to link the samples to a dog or cat.

Mr Eggleston said the age of the samples might have prohibited researchers from discovering their origin.

• Story originally published by:
Daily Telegraph, Sydney / Australia | Mark Scala - Oct 09.01