Thread: the Australian black Panther

Originally Posted by Pickles2

An old post, but yes, these sorts of rumours keep popping up don't they.
I've taken an interest in the issue, & I've heard all sorts of stories...they are decended from animals bought in during WW11 by U.S. soldiers etc etc.
I would like to believe that there are Pumas running around in the Bush, but I don't. There haas been no credible/ positive evidence of anything ..ever.....so for nothing to have been found in nearly 100 years, I say....they are not there.
Cheers, Pickles.

But as I said at the start of this thread I have seen more than one, that is it is not a romour.

Originally Posted by rb30gtr

Maybe the sightings are a wild version of a Maine Coon, or a similar giant domestic cat breed that have a fox like tail?

They can get to 30kgs +, and the wild ones can get quite scruffy.

I have held a 28kg domestic cat, not over weight just a massive breed.

Maine Coon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

what I saw was as big as an german shepard dog.

On my facebook page a discussion of these came up--posted by someone else, and several other people reported seeing these in our area.

Someone asked why do they not hunt humans. 400 Hitchikers have unexplainably disappeared since the 1960s, according to a book I read on Ivan Milat. Yes these could have been murdered, but we cannot assume that something else had not happened.

In our area Road Kill usually disapears by the next day-- yes feral dogs, etc. However, some could be eaten by "Panthers" or whatever they are. Why hunt Humans if and when there are easy sources of meat. Lots of roos in the areas where Panthers are reported-- may be easier prey than humans.

So though I cannot prove the existence of these Panthers other than stating I definately saw at least one, and probably saw others-- those other sightings were not as clear-- so I know they exist even if I am not sure what they are.

So I am glad others have alsao seen them.

Captured on film....

Originally Posted by JohnF

So though I cannot prove the existence of these Panthers other than stating I definately saw at least one, and probably saw others-- those other sightings were not as clear-- so I know they exist even if I am not sure what they are.

This sentence is somewhat contradictory.
You say you definitely saw at least one, and identify it as a Panther, then you state that you are not sure what they are.
Here's the deal.
Someone proves that these big cats are more than simply extra heavy duty ferals, and I'll believe it.
Consider me a Big Cat Agnostic, I'm open to the idea, just not convinced by it.

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

This sentence is somewhat contradictory.
You say you definitely saw at least one, and identify it as a Panther, then you state that you are not sure what they are.
Here's the deal.
Someone proves that these big cats are more than simply extra heavy duty ferals, and I'll believe it.
Consider me a Big Cat Agnostic, I'm open to the idea, just not convinced by it.

I am with you there Disco Muppet, some real proof would be helpful.

I grew up in the country of Gippsland, one morning pulling about 4000 tits at 4 am I saw a huge black 4 legged animal jumping the fences with ease, getting closer and closer.

It was one of the Rotties from the farm house jumping the fences to eat the fresh cow pats. But damn it looked like a black panther across the paddock in the moon light.

Where have these Panthers come from??? There is nothing in the historical record that shows nay large cats escaping and not being captured again.

Some say the Americans released some during the war - where is the evidence of this? If any were released it would have been in different areas and as it does take two to tango any released animals would have died within about 10 years of release and with nothing to mate with there would have been no offspring.

So I am open to input - where did these pumas, panthers etc come from - confirmed information or at least something that is credible that would result in a breeding population - in any particular area let alone all over Australia.

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

Where have these Panthers come from??? There is nothing in the historical record that shows nay large cats escaping and not being captured again.

Some say the Americans released some during the war - where is the evidence of this? If any were released it would have been in different areas and as it does take two to tango any released animals would have died within about 10 years of release and with nothing to mate with there would have been no offspring.

So I am open to input - where did these pumas, panthers etc come from - confirmed information or at least something that is credible that would result in a breeding population - in any particular area let alone all over Australia.

Garry

Could they have been mixing breed lines with wild domestic cats?

Cheers,
Ben

Indeed Garry those facts are always conveniently ignored.

One of the defining characteristics of a "critically endangered species" (likely to become extinct in the very near future) is a population less than 50 mature individuals.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critically_Endangered"]Critically Endangered - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

So if we assume that the "panthers" allegedly released or escaped number 1, 2 or 3 individuals (certainly it could be no more) and that all of those were "mature" (capable of reproduction)...

even IF these individuals were in the same geographic area there is nowehere near a 100% chance they would mate.

Mathematically they are almost certain to become an extinct population. (That is, they would all be long dead by now).

Facts can be a pain in the arse eh.....