mugley writes "The Sunday Herald Sun is running a story about the shooting of a large cat, believed to be a leopard or puma, in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Alien big cats have long been a topic of interest for cryptozoologists (and more recently, Lance Henriksen and his credit card) - is this the first real evidence of their existence?" From the article: "Mike Williams, a representative of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, a body that researches mysterious or out-of-place animals, said he believed it was concrete evidence that big cats are on the loose in Australia. Hundreds of sightings have been reported over the years and a leaked government document revealed 59 sightings had been reported in Gippsland between 1998 and 2001. The cats are said to be descendants of animals that either escaped from zoos or circuses or were released by US airmen who kept them as mascots while stationed in Australia in World War II. "Ads_xl=0;Ads_yl=0;Ads_xp='';Ads_yp='';Ads_xp1='';Ads_yp1='';Ads_par='';Ads_cnturl='';Ads_prf='page=article';Ads_channels='RON_P6_IMU';Ads_wrd='scifi,science';Ads_kid=0;Ads_bid=0;Ads_sec=0; Mystery Australian Big Cat Shot Log in/Create an Account | Top | 326 comments (Spill at 50!) | Index Only | Search Discussion Display Options Threshold: -1: 326 comments 0: 320 comments 1: 260 comments 2: 170 comments 3: 43 comments 4: 26 comments 5: 21 comments Flat Nested No Comments Threaded Oldest First Newest First Highest Scores First Oldest First (Ignore Threads) Newest First (Ignore Threads) The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. That's a Cat? by QuaZar666 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:26AMRe:That's a Cat? by mincognito (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @03:28AM Re:That's a Cat? (Score:4, Funny) by MightyMartian (840721) on Sunday October 09, @12:06PM (#13750814) Look mate, here in Australia, we don't just hunt, we obliterate. Not like you sissy Americans who use semi-automatic. Nope, here Down Under we use sticks of dynamite shoved on to the end of tied-down car shocks. A quick nick with the knife, and its more than shrimp on the barbie tonight, mate!Oh yeah, and as for that tail, mate. We didn't send that to scientists. Pesky lot, always telling us not to rape the kangaroos. Na, we fed the tail to our kids. Makes 'em grow up strong and peculiar, in proper fashion. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:That's a Cat? by telstar (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @02:13PM Re:That's a Cat? (Score:5, Funny) by mattjb0010 (724744) on Sunday October 09, @03:28AM (#13749465) I don't know exactly what this is, but I can't see a Cat in it I can see Jesus in it. How much do you think I'll get on eBay for it? [ Reply to This | ParentRe:That's a Cat? by Bobsledboy (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @11:37AMRe:That's a Cat? by Cyberllama (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:29AMRe:That's a Cat? by QuaZar666 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:32AMRe:That's a Cat? by Cyberllama (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:35AMRe:That's a Cat? by QuaZar666 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:37AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:That's a Cat? by Mister Transistor (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:32AM Re:That's a Cat? (Score:5, Interesting) by ozmanjusri (601766) <aussie_bob@@@hotmail...com> on Sunday October 09, @04:13AM (#13749588) Why sure it is. If you've ever played with a cat and dangled it upside down, they look just like that!I haven't done that - I'm too interested in keeping the skin on my hands and forearms.I think you're right about it being a cat though. It's proportions are similar to a domestic animal, and the hunter has been careful to put the carcass in the foreground where it will appear large compared to reference objects like the motorcycle in the background.I've shot feral cats in the north of WA which were much larger than domestic cats - bigger than foxes in the same area and comparable in size to a small to medium dog. They tended to be a fairly uniform brindle colour, but every so often you'd see a ginger or black cat.I think this is mostly a scam. The guy has shot a large feral cat, played with perspectives in the photo to make it look bigger, and will dine out on the tabloid news media for a few days until the DNA evidence shows he's shot a wild felis cattus. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:That's a Cat? by johansalk (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @06:48AMRe:That's a Cat? by jwdb (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @08:03AMRe:That's a Cat? by ikkonoishi (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @10:49AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:That's a Cat? by DilbertLand (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @09:38AMRe:That's a Cat? by 1u3hr (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @11:31AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:That's a Cat? by modecx (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:23AMRe:That's a Cat? by EtherealStrife (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:44AMRe:That's a Cat? by modecx (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @01:53PM HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! (Score:5, Funny) by ferrellcat (691126) on Sunday October 09, @03:27AM (#13749462) LETS KILL IT!!! [ Reply to ThisRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by arlandbayes (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:35AMRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:24AMan australian viewpoint... by unfunk (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:59AM Re:an australian viewpoint... (Score:5, Funny) by The Fanta Menace (607612) on Sunday October 09, @04:29AM (#13749634) (http://home.zonnet.nl/hardwareogg/) Gee, let me think...* Introduced Species, check* Predatory behaviour, check* Running unchecked in the Australian bush, checkThat describes most Australian farmers. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:an australian viewpoint... by xtermz (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @06:24AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Excen (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:08PMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:30AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Fulcrum of Evil (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:56AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by carl0ski (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:57AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Teun (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:47AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by SquadBoy (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @06:52AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by moonbender (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @07:13AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @07:20AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by IWannaBeAnAC (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @11:22AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:an australian viewpoint... by carl0ski (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:00AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by E8086 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:53PMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Forbman (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:36AMRe:an australian viewpoint... by Conanymous Award (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @08:26AMhumans are predators by SethJohnson (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @01:40PM First, let's kill it... (Score:5, Funny) by Create an Account (841457) on Sunday October 09, @04:06AM (#13749576) Then, I know, I'll cut off its TAIL! Hmm, what about the rest of the carcass? Hey, I'll throw it away! What was this guy thinking? He kills a rare "urban myth" creature (one he had never seen in 50 years hunting the outback), proving the claims of hundreds of farmers (whether he knew it or not), and the best plan he can come up with is 'keep the tail - throw out the rest'? He was hunting deer, right? He had to have some plan to carry the deer out of the wild, right? Can you imagine the scene when he came back into town? "Hey, see this black rope?""Yeah?""It's part of a gigantic cat I shot while I was hunting!""Yeah?" (Sceptically)"Yeah!" (Brandishes tail) "Look, It was coming right at me!""Yeah. Right""No, REALLY..." [ Reply to This | ParentRe:First, let's kill it... by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:41AMRe:First, let's kill it... by Fulcrum of Evil (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:54AMRe:First, let's kill it... by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @06:56AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:First, let's kill it... by (H)elix1 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @10:26AMRe:First, let's kill it... by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @11:35AMRe:First, let's kill it... by (H)elix1 (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @02:57PM Re:First, let's kill it... (Score:5, Informative) by squidinkcalligraphy (558677) on Sunday October 09, @05:17AM (#13749714) (http://www.progsoc.org/~vik) Absolutely suspect, yes, but deer are pests here in the land of Oz, and professional hunters are paid to kill them per scalp (or some other such body part). So no plan to pull the deer back home was necessary. [ Reply to This | Parent2 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by insert_username_here (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:02AMRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by pookemon (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @06:35AMThis is truly a tragedy of infinite dimension by commodoresloat (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @07:13AMRe:This is truly a tragedy of infinite dimension by 6Yankee (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @08:43AMRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by Halfbaked Plan (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @12:06PM Re:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! (Score:5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 09, @04:21AM (#13749609) It's coming right for us![BANG!] [ Reply to This | ParentRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by sbranden (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:41AMRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by connah0047 (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @09:08AMRe:HEY LOOK: A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!! by MightyMartian (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @12:12PM4 replies beneath your current threshold. Sorry, But I Had To Say it... (Score:5, Funny) by Mister Transistor (259842) on Sunday October 09, @03:28AM (#13749463) (Last Journal: Sunday March 02, @01:09PM) "It was comin' right for us!" [ Reply to This1 reply beneath your current threshold.At least... by IWorkForMorons (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:30AMRe:At least... by RiverTonic (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:56AMRe:At least... by Takumi2501 (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:08AMRe:At least... by cerebis (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:34AMRe:At least... by aussie_a (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:50AMRe:At least... by cerebis (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @05:11AMRe:At least... by Fian (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:25AMRe:At least... by cerebis (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @08:53AMRe:At least... by starman97 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @11:26AMRe:At least... by cerebis (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:18PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Not necessarily by MMaestro (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:33AM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Which Big Cat? (Score:5, Insightful) by animeshpathak (873597) on Sunday October 09, @03:30AM (#13749474) (http://animeshpathak.blogspot.com/) "... believed to be a leopard or puma..."How does one confuse a leopard [google.com] with a puma [google.com], especially when the animal in question is not running, but lying dead in front of you?Or maybe they are talking about mysterious out-of-place big cats that alternate between two shapes :-? [ Reply to ThisRe:Which Big Cat? by RhoryCalhoon (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:45AM Schroedinger's Cat! (Score:5, Funny) by Quadraginta (902985) on Sunday October 09, @03:51AM (#13749528) It was in a superposition of states, clearly:    { |leopard> + |puma> } / sqrt(2)When they measure the carcass, they will of course find that it has collapsed to one or the other. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Schroedinger's Cat! by trendyhendy (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:26AMRe:Schroedinger's Cat! by WolfWithoutAClause (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @11:12AMRe:Which Big Cat? by mroch (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:59AMRe:Which Big Cat? by Hymer (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:10AM Re:Which Big Cat? (Score:4, Insightful) by nathanh (1214) on Sunday October 09, @04:47AM (#13749668) (http://www.manu.com.au/) How does one confuse a leopard [google.com] with a puma [google.com], especially when the animal in question is not running, but lying dead in front of you?Dude, this is Australia. The only ferocious animals to hunt in Australia are wild pigs and crazed rabbits. It's possibly the first big cat the hunter has ever seen, so it's no surprise he couldn't identify it. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Which Big Cat? by Anonymous Coward (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:54AMRe:Which Big Cat? by TWooster (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:03AMRe:Which Big Cat? by commodoresloat (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @06:34AMRe:Which Big Cat? by Zakabog (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @06:45AMThey don't have it (the cat), he threw it away!!! by whoda (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @09:08AMRe:Which Big Cat? by wcrowe (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @11:59AMRe:Which Big Cat? by mbourgon (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:00PMRe:Which Big Cat? by zaffir (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @01:10PMGol darnit... by mblase (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:22PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.here kitty, kitty, kitty by rheotaxis (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:31AM Why (Score:5, Interesting) by $exyNerdie (683214) on Sunday October 09, @03:31AM (#13749478) (http://www.kajmereso...io/journey_in_BB.ram | Last Journal: Tuesday May 18, @11:41PM) The retired engineer said he lugged the cat back to his camp, but put the carcass into the river after removing the tail and photographing it. Why oh why? [ Reply to ThisRe:Why by Detritus (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:39AMRe:Why by HaveBlue34 (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:44AMRe:Why by Unnamed Chickenheart (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:02AMRe:Why by Chewbacon (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @08:40AMRe:Why by thrillseeker (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @12:23PM Re:Why (Score:5, Funny) by Fear the Clam (230933) on Sunday October 09, @08:57AM (#13750122) To see if it was a witch. [ Reply to This | ParentEvidence by nurb432 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:45PMPreservative by Ironsides (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @02:22PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.South Park Defense by SQLz (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @03:34AMRe:South Park Defense by SunPin (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @08:59AM Hm summary sun (Score:5, Informative) by FidelCatsro (861135) <fidelcatsro@gma i l . com> on Sunday October 09, @03:42AM (#13749503) (Last Journal: Sunday October 09, @03:18AM) " this the first real evidence of their existence?"No , not at all . There have been numerous examples found over the years . As the article says "Hundreds of sightings have been reported over the years and a leaked government document revealed 59 sightings had been reported in Gippsland between 1998 and 2001.  The cats are said to be descendants of animals that either escaped from zoos or circuses or were released by US airmen who kept them as mascots while stationed in Australia in World War II." What is interesting is the cats origin , Is it a pure puma or has it interbred with other escaped cats in the bush [ Reply to ThisRe:Hm summary sun by aussie_a (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:52AMRe:Hm summary sun by hab136 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:28AMRe:Hm summary sun by FidelCatsro (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:46AMRe:Hm summary sun by E8086 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @02:36PMClinton did it by WindBourne (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @09:19AMRe:Clinton did it by FidelCatsro (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @09:56AMDNA analysis result by Muhammar (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:43AMEndangered species? by aussie_a (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:44AMRe:Endangered species? by Detritus (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:51AMlarge (roasted) marsupial, mmmmm by Quadraginta (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:56AMRe:large (roasted) marsupial, mmmmm by mattjb0010 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:01AMtasmanian tiger by SethJohnson (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:38AMit was a wolf by SethJohnson (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:58PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Endangered species? by Fulcrum of Evil (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:59AMRe:Endangered species? by Anonymous Coward (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:41AM Re:Endangered species? (Score:4, Interesting) by nihilogos (87025) on Sunday October 09, @06:53AM (#13749888) There were several large marsupials, such as the diprotodon [wikipedia.org], but I don't think they're cats. You might be thinking of the Thylacine [wikipedia.org] which is also known as the Tasmanian Tiger, but again isn't a cat.But seeing as about 2/3rds of all native australian fauna have been wiped out since the arrival of the environmental disaster known as homo sapiens, it's certainly possible that there were some cats in there somewhere. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Endangered species? by Conanymous Award (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @08:50AMRe:Endangered species? by atrus (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:52AMRe:Endangered species? by deimtee (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:04AMRe:Endangered species? by maglor_83 (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @03:54AMRe:Endangered species? by aussie_a (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:58AMRe:Endangered species? by maglor_83 (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:32AMRe:Endangered species? by aussie_a (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:41AMRe:Endangered species? by houseofzeus (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @07:16AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Endangered species? by idlake (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @04:01AMRe:Endangered species? by dbIII (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @06:39AMWe've got plenty of native big cats here by hayden (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @07:38AM Ob quote (Score:4, Funny) by feyhunde (700477) on Sunday October 09, @03:50AM (#13749525) A Puma Ate my baby! [ Reply to ThisRe:Ob quote by Frogbert (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:58AMRe:Ob quote by Diag (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:27AMRe:Ob quote by cerebis (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:41AMRe:Ob quote by Helpadingoatemybaby (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @05:20AMRe:Ob quote by feyhunde (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @05:32AMRe:Ob quote by dbIII (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @06:52AMRe:Ob quote by fullcircleflight (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @07:45AMRe:Ob quote by Hymer (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:22AMRe:Ob quote by Anonymous Coward (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @07:10AMRe:Ob quote by Hymer (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @01:19PMFisher Cat by Hao Wu (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @03:54AMKzin invade at last ! by S3D (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @03:59AMRe:Kzin invade at last ! by westyx (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @12:16PMI'm sorry, but.. by Pudusplat (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:00AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Anonymous Coward (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:21AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Shanep (Score:3)Sunday October 09, @06:26AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by anagama (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:14PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:I'm sorry, but.. by Diag (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:24AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Nqdiddles (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @10:00AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by mattjb0010 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:25AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by strider44 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:48AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by mattjb0010 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:55AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by strider44 (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @07:23AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Biogenesis (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:33AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by minorproblem (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:37AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @05:55AM Re:I'm sorry, but.. (Score:5, Informative) by Shanep (68243) on Sunday October 09, @05:41AM (#13749755) (http://slashdot.org/) Ok, this situation is hilarious. In Australia I suppose its not only ok but ENCOURAGED by the media to be a crazy redneck shooting random wild animals? I guess they have a history of roughing it and theres dangerous animals a-plenty, but still that culture seems a little bit whacked out. Just look how happy that crazy redneck in the picture is.For all you know, this man is a high genius who works for the CSIRO and actually CARES about Australian native animals. You are judging a book by its cover. In fact, this man is a retired engineer. What makes him a "redneck"? A beard? A gun? Warm clothing? A hunter? Are you a fucking American? If so, guess what, your president fits this description nicely. At least this guy has not also put thousands of innocent humans to death.Wild predators in an environment where they do not belong, do MASSIVE damage to native animals which are not in any way equiped with natural means of defence. Those native animals BECOME DECIMATED. Even wild cats from domestic bloodlines become larger killing machines. Rabbits, horses, pigs, cats and dogs have all caused massive damage to Australian native animals, to the point of extinction. We even have wild camels roaming about, but thankfully their softer padded feet do much less damage than those of horses.A very intelligent electroncs engineer I once worked with, had a job on the side bow hunting ferral animals for New South Wales Parks and Wildlife. Bow hunting being prefered in national parks for people specifically allowed to cull these problem animals.You are ignorant to somehow just cast judgement on this man because he has killed what you describe as "random wild animals". If this is indeed a "big cat" and it was obvious to him, then on moral grounds he SHOULD SHOOT IT. That is no "random" animal. I say this as a conservationist and vegetarian (moral reasons) of more than 20 years. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Pastis (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @08:44AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @09:36AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by TheHornedOne (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @09:58AMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:26PMRe:I'm sorry, but.. by Shanep (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @02:45PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.3 replies beneath your current threshold.I'm A Skeptic by Legendof_Pedro (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @04:01AM1 reply beneath your current threshold. The Sunday Herald Sun (Score:5, Insightful) by nihilogos (87025) on Sunday October 09, @04:01AM (#13749562) For those who aren't familiar with it, is one of the trashiest "newspapers" around. And the Centre for Fortean Zoology [cfz.org.uk]'s whose mission statement is "At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them."News for nuts. [ Reply to ThisRe:The Sunday Herald Sun by cheesee (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @04:23AMRe:The Sunday Herald Sun by pookemon (Score:1)Sunday October 09, @06:50AMRe:The Sunday Herald Sun by commodoresloat (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @07:11AM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Call me a skeptic... (Score:5, Insightful) by Bitsy Boffin (110334) on Sunday October 09, @04:01AM (#13749563) (http://www.gogo.co.nz/) this seems fishy to me. Firstly, the hunter reckons his bullet blew the feline's head apart, and from the photo it really looks like there is NOTHING left of it... would a RIFLE bullet really do that much damage? I mean, if it was a shot gun, fired into it's face, then yea, but a rifle fired from behind, passing in behind the ear and THEN blowing the head apart?Secondly, rather than pack out this surely important find, he cuts off the tail and just takes that with him, I mean, if it were me, I'd be carrying the whole carcass out, or at least marking and burying it so they can come back and retrieve it. It's not even like he had to carry it, he could have strapped it on like a backpack (I believe this is how hunters carry deer), tied it on the back of the bike, or even towed it behind the bike wrapped in a tarpaulin or something, it was dead anyway not like he could have hurt it any more than it was.Thirdly, the fact that he shot the thing, when it was not a threat (he says it turned away, side on), with a rifle. I've never shot a gun, rifle or otherwise, but I imagine that with a rifle there needs to be some aiming involved, he was calm enough to aim, and fire the gun, making a clean shot into the cats head... if a big cat graced my path, I think I'd be frozen stiff, hoping like hell it won't be interested in me, not tracking it with the sights on my rifle.I dunno, this whole thing just seems really fishy to me. Not that there couldn't be a few big cats roaming the Australian countryside, but have a sneaking suspicion that this was not one of them. [ Reply to This Aiming rifles (Score:4, Interesting) by Create an Account (841457) on Sunday October 09, @04:27AM (#13749630) Yeah, there is a good bit of aiming involved. This guy was apparently an experienced hunter, and some of those guys areinsanely good shots. When it turned away, it was actually a harder shot because it was moving side to side (bearing change) rather than coming straight at him. He said he hit it behind the shoulder (which is about where you would aim) and the bullet destroyed the head. This implies either that the cat was running away from him, or the bullet was deflected inside the cat's body (probably by a bone or rib.) Finally, if he was using hollow points (which is more likely in some rifles than in others) it could very easily blow the majority of the head off. So, maybe.That paper's not very credible, though, and lots of people are saying the big cats are just myths, and he did throw away his best evidence. So, maybe not. Interesting idea, either way. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Aiming rifles by kayen_telva (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @10:33AMRe:Aiming rifles by anagama (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @01:29PMRe:Aiming rifles by ajs (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @12:06PMThis certainly smells like a hoax by xixax (Score:2)Sunday October 09, @09:25AM