Im backing up foofstars comments here, there have been numerous sightings and reports in Victoria, Australia of Big Cats when there never have been.
There are many reasons and stories for the occurance - one of them is that US Naval seamen brought them here as kittens after war in the Pacific and
were forced to release them when leaving Australia, and they have grown in population since.
Other reports are that they are just domesticated cats that have gotten loose and over a couple of generations have adapted and developed in pretty
large and dangerous hunters, especially of the native fauna like wallabies, and other small marsupials.
I tell ya what thou, theres nothing more satisfying then taking one out whilst he's gazing into that spotlight. A real pest and problem in
Australia.
There have been many documented reports in Government departments and numerous reports of big cats taking sheep and small cattle, but for some reason
the government tries to keep these reports quiet for fear they will scare campers and tourists and hikers.
But they are out there.
"Big Cats wild in the West"
www.abc.net.au...
"Big cats not a tall tale"
www.smh.com.au...
"Big Cats In The Bush?"
www.strangenation.com.au...
"Big Cats in Australia"
www.strangenation.com.au...
"The secret Big Cat files"
www.news.com.au...
Quote - "Documented sightings include:
A GIANT fawn cat -- described as bigger than a German shepherd dog -- at Stockdale in January.
A "HUGE black puma" with three kittens the size of kelpie dogs, near Woodside Beach in May 2004.
12 LAMBS killed and gutted within three weeks near Woodside in May 2003.
A CALF devoured at Seaton in December 2004 and recorded as the work of "big cats. 100 per cent sure". "
As you can see there are endless reports of these cats in australia. They have grown, mutated, adapted to our harsh environment, and have become a
menace. No one has actually caught a large cat as such but many have seen them and the damage they have done.
Hope this helped. Oh! And reports of shape shifting...that is just B.S !