Big cat search on again

Alicia Wood Political Reporter
The Daily Telegraph
September 20, 2013       

The mythical Penrith Panther / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

 THE black cat is back - the state government is again investigating sightings of the elusive Penrith panther. The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Department of Primary Industries is holding an independent inquiry into "large free-ranging cats", following representations by Hawkesbury MP Ray Williams, the parliamentary secretary for Western Sydney.
Mr Williams, who was cynical about the big cat's existence, confirmed he saw it one night while driving with his wife.                          .


Rex Gilroy looks for evidance of the panther in Lithgow /
Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Limited

There have been more than 600 sightings of the fanged beast over the past two decades.
Under Former Premier Nathan Rees in 2008, a comprehensive inquiry into panther sightings found: "It seems more likely than not on available evidence that such animals do exist in NSW."
Mr Williams said he has heard of big cat sightings around his local area for 30 years, including landowners who have seen sheep and deer ripped apart.
''There is no animal in this country that does this type of thing,'' Mr Williams said.
''We don't want people to go and hunt them down, what we want is some signage in remote areas to remind parents to keep an eye on their kids.''

A plaster cast of paw print collected in 1999 /
Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Limited

Mr Williams came face to face with the cat in 2009, when he and his wife Wendy were driving home from a Rural Fire Service ball at the Colo River.
''We turned a corner and there was a big black cat with a long tail that disappeared through a fence,'' he said.
Cryptozoologist Rex Gilroy said there was significant evidence of a "marsupial cat" population in NSW, and it is about time it was classified.

The Penrith Panther / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

"We need to identify the creature, and know its habits. There are populations of this marsupial species all over Australia. The government should pay for an investigation,'' Mr Gilroy said.
A Department of Primary Industries spokesman said the independent investigation would report back by the end of the year.

Panther expert Rex Gilroy looks for evidence /
Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Limited       

''An independent desktop evaluation of evidence is underway including identification of large cat species,'' the spokesman said.
``This involves looking at past evidence to assess the likelihood of the presence of large free-ranging cats.
''A departmental policy document released in March advised staff of what to do when the public reports "large feline sightings".
Staff are told to call the police "where the public are concerned for their safety," or to advise the appropriate land manager for further investigation.
Attacks on livestock are to be referred to the Livestock Health and Pest Authority for investigation.
The description of "large felines" in the policy document includes lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and cougars.
Staff are advised they could also be referred to as "alien big cats", "phantom cats" or the Blue Mountains, Emmaville, Lithgow or Richmond Panther. -

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/it8217s-official-the-phantom-big-black-cat-is-back/story-e6frg6n6-1226723149436