Australia's Legendary Cat- Found at Last?
Gippsland (Australia):
Australia's big cat riddle could finally be solved after a hunter shot dead what is thought to be a puma in Victoria's Gippsland region.
Kurt Engel photographed the dead animal and cut off its tail after shooting it while hunting deer in rugged terrain near Sale in June.
A sample of the cat's DNA, taken from the tail, has recently been sent for analysis and could finally lay to rest an age-old mystery by confirming the feline's species.
The breakthrough follows decades of sightings of mysterious big cats throughout Australia – including in Queensland – but no physical proof of their existence.
Big-cat researchers have hailed the 67-year-old retired engineer's kill as the best evidence uncovered.
The Melbourne man said he was hunting when he noticed large paw prints in a dry creek bed. Soon after, he caught sight of a crouching big cat about 70m away.
The cat charged in his direction.
He said the bullet entered behind the cat's shoulder and blew off its head.
Mr Engel said he found the remains of a freshly killed wombat nearby. Its skull had been crushed.
Mr Engel said he did not believe big cats existed before the encounter.
"I think it was a million to one chance – I have been hunting in forests for 50 years and never seen a big cat," he said.
He lugged the cat back to camp, but dumped the carcass into the river after photographing it and removing the tail.
Mike Williams, an Australian representative of the British-based Centre for Fortean Zoology, which researches mysterious or out-of-place animals, said he believed it was concrete evidence big cats were on the loose in Australia.
"Kurt has killed an urban legend," Mr Williams said.
"He has proved all the hundreds of farmers have been telling the truth – there is a breeding population of big cats.
"The tail is 100 per cent – it is a concrete case."
Hundreds of sightings have been reported over the years – including claims from the Toowoomba region in the late 1990s – and a leaked government document revealed 59 sightings had been reported in Gippsland between 1998-2001.
The cats are said to be descendants of animals which either escaped from zoos or circuses or were released by US airmen who kept them as mascots while stationed in Australia in World War II.
Oct 09, 2005
Kelvin Healey, Queensland Sunday Mail
Gippsland (Australia):Australia's big cat riddle could finally be solved after a hunter shot dead what is thought to be a puma in Victoria's Gippsland region.
Kurt Engel photographed the dead animal and cut off its tail after shooting it while hunting deer in rugged terrain near Sale in June.
A sample of the cat's DNA, taken from the tail, has recently been sent for analysis and could finally lay to rest an age-old mystery by confirming the feline's species.
The breakthrough follows decades of sightings of mysterious big cats throughout Australia – including in Queensland – but no physical proof of their existence.
Big-cat researchers have hailed the 67-year-old retired engineer's kill as the best evidence uncovered.
The Melbourne man said he was hunting when he noticed large paw prints in a dry creek bed. Soon after, he caught sight of a crouching big cat about 70m away.
The cat charged in his direction.
He said the bullet entered behind the cat's shoulder and blew off its head.
Mr Engel said he found the remains of a freshly killed wombat nearby. Its skull had been crushed.
Mr Engel said he did not believe big cats existed before the encounter.
"I think it was a million to one chance – I have been hunting in forests for 50 years and never seen a big cat," he said.
He lugged the cat back to camp, but dumped the carcass into the river after photographing it and removing the tail.
Mike Williams, an Australian representative of the British-based Centre for Fortean Zoology, which researches mysterious or out-of-place animals, said he believed it was concrete evidence big cats were on the loose in Australia.
"Kurt has killed an urban legend," Mr Williams said.
"He has proved all the hundreds of farmers have been telling the truth – there is a breeding population of big cats.
"The tail is 100 per cent – it is a concrete case."
Hundreds of sightings have been reported over the years – including claims from the Toowoomba region in the late 1990s – and a leaked government document revealed 59 sightings had been reported in Gippsland between 1998-2001.
The cats are said to be descendants of animals which either escaped from zoos or circuses or were released by US airmen who kept them as mascots while stationed in Australia in World War II.
Oct 09, 2005
Kelvin Healey, Queensland Sunday Mail
