NEWSLINK: More on Australian big cat debate

Report finds big cats "highly unlikely''
Leader News
And the official conclusion is that big cats sighted over the years are large feral domestic cats, according to Victorian Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh. He said his pre-election commitment to run a "desk'' study into whether big ...

8.30a Reloaded ABC SoutheastSA with Stan Thomson 20th Sept. 2012
ABC Online (blog)
Simon Townsend is known affectionately as the BIG CAT MAN. He has pursued evidence to prove that animal similar to leopard, cougar, wild cat, or panther is actively roaming our region , attacking livestock. Attempts to convince the Victorian Govt, have ...

SIGHTINGS: More Victoria big cats

Hunt goes on for big cat | Geelong, VIC, Australia
GEELONG region researcher Simon Townsend claims the Victorian Government has predictably whitewashed an independent report into existence of big cats ...

NEWSLINK: Big cat research lacking: Townsend

UPDATE: BIG cat veteran researcher Simon Townsend said he will continue the Victorian Government's hunt single-handed.

Mr Townsend said he was bitterly disappointed the Government has not accepted the recommendations of its own experts to continue the research.

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NEWSLINK: Senator Kerry Introduces the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Tigers, lions and communities across the country may soon receive critical protection  U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) today introduced S.3547, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act, aimed at prohibiting private possession and breeding of captive big cats in the United States. The House version of the bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) last March. 

                              
Kerry's action comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Zanesville, Ohio animal massacre where the owner of a backyard collection of tigers, lions and other exotic wildlife, committed suicide after freeing the animals from their cages. Local police were forced to shoot and kill nearly 50 animals - 38 of them big cats - before they could enter populated areas.

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I do think this is a good idea, but like the uk it could mean more exotic big cats are released into the wild and left to fend for themselves.

SIGHTINGS: From the Telegraph

A flurry of sightings of big cats emerged after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 made it illegal to keep untamed pets. Many owners of exotic cats such as pumas or lynx simply freed their untamed pets into the countryside. Here is a round up sightings:

 

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NEWSLINK: Do you believe the big cat exists?

This follows numerous reports in the Leader of big cat sightings in both Upper Ferntree Gully and the hills and will fulfil a pre-election promise from Nationals' leader Peter Ryan, who said there were enough credible observations to warrant an investigation.

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