Pumas, do they exist?

[Seconds]

I see pictures of animals killed by a predator but no evidence of a cat specifically

[bluerob]

When I lived "out west" years ago, a mate that I took shooting shot a feral cat that was lurking near the woodshed.

We we about 250m out and he shot it with a AR10 (when the great unwashed were allowed to own semi auto's).

The cat he shot was the size of a large dog. The muscle in the legs looked at though it'd been on the roids for years (well, it probably was with what sheep were drenched with) and worked out at the local gym. The chest on the thing was like steel.

Wish I carried a camera in those days as I saw things that most wouldn't believe (anyone ever gone for a wander through the Macquarie Marshes starting from the Canonbar side?) like a boar that was as long as Landcrusier ute and sat as high as the window (there used to be a photo of that pig at the old Hermidale Pub). You could give me $1m and I'd never muster through that place again.

[Sender]

The cat he shot was the size of a large dog. The muscle in the legs looked at though it'd been on the roids for years (well, it probably was with what sheep were drenched with) and worked out at the local gym. The chest on the thing was like steel.

Working for a living, not a fat lazy house cat.

[tom604]

a shepherd is a large dog, kelpie, medium, so bigger than a kelpie but smaller than a shepherd?, kelpie about 20 kilos? not saying it wasn't a big cat but maybe not that big

[WildHunter]

http://www.bigcatsvic.com.au/

Interesting site, looks like it hasn't been updated in a while. Also the photo's don't actually appear to support the theory. Half of them say 'probably killed by wild dog' and then others just give a description of the dead animal, only the last few photo's actually say suspected big cat kill

[Oldbloke]

http://www.bigcatsvic.com.au/

Interesting site, looks like it hasn't been updated in a while. Also the photo's don't actually appear to support the theory. Half of them say 'probably killed by wild dog' and then others just give a description of the dead animal, only the last few photo's actually say suspected big cat kill

I noticed that too. The site almost disproves their existance.

[WildHunter]

A poster in a shop window? How long do you reckon it had been there? Weird since the site seems a few years since last update

[Title_II]

http://www.bigcatsvic.com.au/

http://www.bfro.net/

[KWhorenet]

a shepherd is a large dog, kelpie, medium, so bigger than a kelpie but smaller than a shepherd?, kelpie about 20 kilos? not saying it wasn't a big cat but maybe not that big

Look back at the pic I posted which is from a member here I believe (I poached it as it is the biggest I've seen), now seeing that big black bastard prowling would surely send most people into a 'fcuk me is that just a cat' type frenzy.

That one is bigger than the decent sized foxes its hanging next to.

I'm still gobsmacked at how big pussy gets in this country.

The comment about what they eat and having to work for it may both be factors.

Some breeds are just big by nature. Allowed to grow wild with high protein diets, working out hard daily to survive, annnnd evolving as the strong survive surely will see more BIG cats in the future.

The next apex predators to take over from the Tassie Tiger;
- Feral Dog
- Feral Cat

You just have to look at the teeth some of these evolving ferals are forming. NOT your average moggy that is for sure.

Our family Brittish Black farm cat used to hunt every night. He was solid. Would carry live full grown rabbits home and let them go in the house.

He did lift!

[Title_II]

I'm still gobsmacked at how big pussy gets in this country.

I'm not sure what that means but it sounds like I'd like to get gobsmacked a little more often

[KWhorenet]

I'm still gobsmacked at how big pussy gets in this country.

I'm not sure what that means but it sounds like I'd like to get gobsmacked a little more often

Trust me, they are mostly feral here.

[Oldbloke]

Mmm interesting, I just found this reference to a fairly recent sighting.

http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/29482 ... a-sighted/

[pajamatime]

The biggest thing that causes me to be skeptical about Pumas/ Bigfoot/ bunyips. Is that unless these creatures have life spans of 150 years or as long as reported sightings then you need a breeding population of at least 100 to be sustainable and stop the negative effects of imbreeding.

A lot more plausible with the Australian Pumas but if there was that many then sightings would be a lot higher.

you forgot how illusive some animals can be...and yes they have sex and make more. naturally lol
wouldnt you? I know I would. (not with you but with a female human of my species lol)

[WildHunter]

...and yes they have sex and make more. naturally lol
wouldnt you? I know I would. (not with you but with a female human of my species lol)

You'd have to take me out first

[WildHunter]

Mmm interesting, I just found this reference to a fairly recent sighting.

http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/29482 ... a-sighted/

Wow, that's really recent.

[RoginaJack]

Yeah, there is also the story been going around for years of a panther in the Emmaville area, North of Glen Innes - "The Emmaville Panther" . A mate of mine has property interest up there and swears that the story is true. We're been up there hunting rabbits, pigs and Fallow deer but didn't sight it.

Also, there was a animal going around the Woolgoolga, (near Coffs Harbour) banana plantations in the 60's ripping down trees and the locals thought it was a panther too, going by the claw marks. One of the locals erected a life size cut out of a Panther on one of the tight bends on the Coffs - Woolgoolga road. When you came around the tight down hill corner the headlights caught a glimpse of the black cut out and reflected of the red eyes; that caused a stir. Turned out to be a pack of feral dogs ripping the banana trees down trying to catch the possums.
BUT, stay safe 'cause ya never know!

[Title_II]

The biggest thing that causes me to be skeptical about Pumas/ Bigfoot/ bunyips. Is that unless these creatures have life spans of 150 years or as long as reported sightings then you need a breeding population of at least 100 to be sustainable and stop the negative effects of imbreeding.

A lot more plausible with the Australian Pumas but if there was that many then sightings would be a lot higher.

you forgot how illusive some animals can be...and yes they have sex and make more. naturally lol
wouldnt you? I know I would. (not with you but with a female human of my species lol)

Yeah, right

[pajamatime]

...and yes they have sex and make more. naturally lol
wouldnt you? I know I would. (not with you but with a female human of my species lol)

You'd have to take me out first

none of this courting crap. I'm straight into it...got no time to waste I got a mountain people village to populate lol

The biggest thing that causes me to be skeptical about Pumas/ Bigfoot/ bunyips. Is that unless these creatures have life spans of 150 years or as long as reported sightings then you need a breeding population of at least 100 to be sustainable and stop the negative effects of imbreeding.

A lot more plausible with the Australian Pumas but if there was that many then sightings would be a lot higher.

you forgot how illusive some animals can be...and yes they have sex and make more. naturally lol
wouldnt you? I know I would. (not with you but with a female human of my species lol)

Yeah, right

lol no! straight ahead...

[beerd]

How about forum group hunt to bag the mythical Australian Puma?

[WildHunter]

Not a bad idea

[Octane]

But not the real question, how to mythical Pumas taste?

[WildHunter]

Not sure if you can see the picture from the link but farrrk that's a huge cat.

https://www.facebook.com/TrendyArticles ... =1&theater

[Oldbloke]

Yeh, big bugger

[Oldbloke]

Nothing changes at that LGS, prices are still too high for me.

[Hammo]

Well, I'd be sceptical myself (I'm naturally a sceptic) had I not seen one myself about 30 years ago.

I was 15 years old and bushwalking alone in the northern part of Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. It was a very hot day and the track had shoulder height, thick teatree brush on both sides. Suddenly out of the teatree, about 20m in front of me, a giant black cat with a very long flowing tail, stepped onto the track and crossed in front of me. I only saw it for about 2 seconds and I think it was just as suprised to see me. Walking alone makes you much quieter than in a group. I was very close and I immediately froze in fear and not believing what I had just seen. Bear in mind, this was 30 years ago and I had never heard of such a thing happening or being sighted before. The cat was at least the size of a full grown German Shepard dog and I have to say, my adrenalin was running overtime. I expected the cat/puma to come back and eat me. After a few minutes I carefully continued on may walk and have never seen anything like it since.

About 2 years later, I was hiking in the same area with some friends and we were sleeping in our tent when we heard what I could only describe as a scream I imagine you would make if your throat was being cut. It was close enough to the campsite that we thought someone was being murdered on or near us. We were s**t scared. Now, I have spent time in the bush from a young age and I am familiar with just about everything that lives, crawls and slides there, but this sound was something else entirely.

Many years later, when people started appearing in the media claiming they had seen a Puma, I did a little reading. Apparently, the Puma has a mating call best described as a 'Blood Curdling Cry'. They are incredibly adaptable animals and can live anywhere from the snow to the desert and have very large territorial areas. I have no idea how they got here, but they will have no trouble surviving in our environment.

As I said, had I not seen one myself, I would be sceptical - and some sightings now doubt, are simply large feral cats....But what I saw on that track that day, was not a large feral cat. It was huge, sleek, black, with wide jowls and a very long tail. I am a believer even if others are not.

I have never shared that story publicly anywhere in 30 years. Let the flaming begin.

[KWhorenet]

There is also a bird that lets out a blood curdling scream in Victoria.

I hear it here in South Gippsland quite often. Being new to Victoria in 2007, it was the most alarming sound I've ever heard. Years later I found out it is 'common knowledge' around here. Still puts the wind up me when I'm out in the local scrub

Turns out the common knowledge is bulls**t !

https://youtu.be/J6NuhlibHsM

[ebr love]

What's this bird?

[Oldbloke]

I have often heard them and wondered what they were. But would not call that a screem like call. Just sounds like a bird call to me.

[KWhorenet]

I have often heard them and wondered what they were. But would not call that a screem like call. Just sounds like a bird call to me.

Will see if I can record one of the screamers here in quality audio. My dog skitzes out over it. Last one was in the corner of my house block, loud and definitely not just a tame bird call. Might be something different. Could be a mating call from some of the inbred yocals around these parts also

[Oldbloke]

https://youtu.be/RZWHUU41gsk

Yep, just sounds like a bird to me..