Talk about a close call.
Every once in a while, an outdoors video is so heart-pounding and intense that it’s viral power last for years on end. That’s what is happening with this video out of Naples, Florida, which shows one of the state’s rare Florida Panthers (wild animal, not hockey player) getting too close for comfort to a human being on a walking trail.
This video was recently posted by an Instagram account that’s notorious for posting AI-generated content. That led to some confusion, since this footage is 100% real. It was actually captured by a woman named Tina Dorschel as she was walking through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida nine years ago (before AI was running rampant).
Tina found herself in an up close and personal with the big cat as she traversed the sanctuary that’s also recognized as a natural protected wetlands area. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary features a boardwalk, observation tower, and obviously from this clip, native wildlife.
The shocking video shows Dorschel walking along the boardwalk area of the sanctuary, when all of the sudden she hears the “pitter patter” of someone approaching on the wooden walkway. However, much to her surprise (she says “oh s**t” multiple times in the video), it wasn’t a someone… but rather a something that was running her way.
She somehow had the wherewithal to get her camera out and hit the record button, and managed to keep the video recording as a large panther came running right by her on the boardwalk. As it passes her, the animal momentarily loses its footing as it quickly navigates the corner of the walkway.
The panther then goes running off in the opposite direction as Dorschel continues to stay frozen in place. It’s clear that the woman’s “fight or flight” response kicked in, and she landed in the “too shocked to move an inch” category of the scale. And I mean… who could really blame her?
What is her alternative option? Dive into the swamp and marsh where there are probably all kinds of snakes and alligators? There weren’t exactly any ideal choices of avoidance in the moment, and standing still and cursing may have actually been the best course of action.
I do have to point out that it’s rather funny to read through the comment section of this video below. There are more than a couple of people that were upset at her for not turning the phone horizontally to film the encounter. Yeah, like you are supposed to be thinking of the quality of the video during a potentially life threatening situation such as this one. Better make sure you get a good angle of the Florida panther ripping you to pieces!
The video is linked below, and the description of the video reads as follows:
“On March 29th, Tina Dorschel from Naples, Florida was walking through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary when she spotted an unusual suspect.
A Florida Panther came running out onto the dock! Florida Panthers are a rare sighting for anyone, especially a close encounter!”
