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| This big cat was photographed near Lara, 15km northeast of Geelong in Victoria |
Just weeks after it shelved plans to solve the decades-long mystery, the
Victorian Government now wants to put the matter to rest once and for all.
Witness sightings have been recorded, over at least 60 years, of cougars, panthers or pumas in a wide stretch of Victoria from Gippsland to the Otways, the Grampians, central Victoria and at Beechworth in the northeast.
The reports include livestock maulings and unexplained paw prints.
As reported in The Weekly Times, an official investigation has been
launched in line with a 2010 pre-election pledge from Nationals leader Peter
Ryan, who said "there were enough credible observations" to warrant the
effort.
Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said work on the big cat study had already started. Mr Walsh said wild-dog control remained the Government's priority but there were now "sufficient departmental resources available".
"The study will review existing literature, reports, correspondence and other evidence for the presence of big cats in Victoria, and it includes liaison with relevant community groups and individuals who have reports or records of possible sightings," Mr Walsh said.
"The study is expected to take several months to complete."
The investigation is known to include staff from the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Opposition agriculture spokesman John Lenders yesterday said the Government's priorities to rural and regional Victorians were more important "than solving Deputy Premier Peter Ryan's obsession with finding his big cat".
Melbourne-based big cats researcher Michael Moss said he had been telephoned by a DSE scientist wanting copies of his research and who asked him to keep the contact secret.
"There is no doubt they (big cats) are out there," Mr Moss said, adding that the recent rediscovery of the Tiger Quoll in the Otways again proved how easy it was for animals to remain undetected in wilderness area for long periods of time.
Read more by clicking HERE
Thanks
[Thanks to Caroline Fowke for alerting us about this story]
Witness sightings have been recorded, over at least 60 years, of cougars, panthers or pumas in a wide stretch of Victoria from Gippsland to the Otways, the Grampians, central Victoria and at Beechworth in the northeast.
Have you got
photos or video? MMS to 0404 333 444, email news@heraldsun.com.au
Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said work on the big cat study had already started. Mr Walsh said wild-dog control remained the Government's priority but there were now "sufficient departmental resources available".
"The study will review existing literature, reports, correspondence and other evidence for the presence of big cats in Victoria, and it includes liaison with relevant community groups and individuals who have reports or records of possible sightings," Mr Walsh said.
"The study is expected to take several months to complete."
The investigation is known to include staff from the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Opposition agriculture spokesman John Lenders yesterday said the Government's priorities to rural and regional Victorians were more important "than solving Deputy Premier Peter Ryan's obsession with finding his big cat".
Melbourne-based big cats researcher Michael Moss said he had been telephoned by a DSE scientist wanting copies of his research and who asked him to keep the contact secret.
"There is no doubt they (big cats) are out there," Mr Moss said, adding that the recent rediscovery of the Tiger Quoll in the Otways again proved how easy it was for animals to remain undetected in wilderness area for long periods of time.
Read more by clicking HERE
Thanks
[Thanks to Caroline Fowke for alerting us about this story]
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