Dad Shot a Big Cat, Too
Kelvin Healey
Melbourne Herald Sun
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Melbourne (Australia):
New evidence of big cats roaming wild in Victoria emerged this week, fuelling debate over mystery felines.
In yet another twist to the big cat riddle, retired businessman Dale O'Sullivan unveiled a stuffed puma, which he said was shot by his father at their Woodend property in the 1960s.
The revelation came after the Sunday Herald Sun last week published a photo of a big cat shot by hunter Kurt Engel in June.
DNA from the cat, which Mr Engel said he killed in Gippsland in June, has been sent overseas for examination.
Other developments this week included:
A theory that US airmen used a compartment in Vultee Vengeance dive bombers to smuggle the cats into Australia in WWII.
Geelong woman Helen Gundry reported seeing a big cat while on holidays in Darwin in July.
Revelations of multiple sightings of big cats in the Otways.
A Gippsland hunting store owner offered a $10,000 bounty for a big cat shot with a bow and arrow.
Mr O'Sullivan, who said he was a teenager when his father shot the cat at their cattle stud, said
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See Archive:
Australia's Legendary Cat- Found at Last?
_________________________________
the puma was stuffed and stored in a back room and forgotten about for nearly half a century.
"Nobody could give a damn about a big cat back then," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"He (his father) got it mounted, but it just got put in a back room and forgotten about. I can vouch for the fact it was shot here."
Big cat researchers Bernie Mace and Mike Williams examined Mr O'Sullivan's cat and said it was definitely a puma.
Mr Mace said it was a young animal and helped prove that big cats bred in the wild after WWII.
"This is a juvenile animal, possibly about 18 months old.
"I have no doubt about the veracity of Dale O'Sullivan and I consider it a definitive piece of evidence."
Meanwhile, Mr Engel rejected criticism of his photograph and questions about why he disposed of the carcass.
The Noble Park hunter said he never intended to publicise the incident.
"That's the way it happened -- I can only say what I saw," Mr Engel said.
Oct 16, 2005
Kelvin Healey
Melbourne Herald Sun
______________
Melbourne (Australia):
New evidence of big cats roaming wild in Victoria emerged this week, fuelling debate over mystery felines.
In yet another twist to the big cat riddle, retired businessman Dale O'Sullivan unveiled a stuffed puma, which he said was shot by his father at their Woodend property in the 1960s.
The revelation came after the Sunday Herald Sun last week published a photo of a big cat shot by hunter Kurt Engel in June.
DNA from the cat, which Mr Engel said he killed in Gippsland in June, has been sent overseas for examination.
Other developments this week included:
A theory that US airmen used a compartment in Vultee Vengeance dive bombers to smuggle the cats into Australia in WWII.
Geelong woman Helen Gundry reported seeing a big cat while on holidays in Darwin in July.
Revelations of multiple sightings of big cats in the Otways.
A Gippsland hunting store owner offered a $10,000 bounty for a big cat shot with a bow and arrow.
Mr O'Sullivan, who said he was a teenager when his father shot the cat at their cattle stud, said
_________________________________
See Archive:
Australia's Legendary Cat- Found at Last?
_________________________________
the puma was stuffed and stored in a back room and forgotten about for nearly half a century.
"Nobody could give a damn about a big cat back then," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"He (his father) got it mounted, but it just got put in a back room and forgotten about. I can vouch for the fact it was shot here."
Big cat researchers Bernie Mace and Mike Williams examined Mr O'Sullivan's cat and said it was definitely a puma.
Mr Mace said it was a young animal and helped prove that big cats bred in the wild after WWII.
"This is a juvenile animal, possibly about 18 months old.
"I have no doubt about the veracity of Dale O'Sullivan and I consider it a definitive piece of evidence."
Meanwhile, Mr Engel rejected criticism of his photograph and questions about why he disposed of the carcass.
The Noble Park hunter said he never intended to publicise the incident.
"That's the way it happened -- I can only say what I saw," Mr Engel said.
Oct 16, 2005
