A big cat sighting has been reported every day in Australia, on average, over the last two years.
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A team of Aussie experts aim to prove that a big cat population exists in remote areas of the bush.
Their quest takes them to remote bush in the Hunter Valley, the Otways region of Victoria and south-west Western Australia.
Their story is told in a documentary called The Hunt: In Search of Australia's Big Cats, which will air on Tuesday at 9.30pm on Discovery Channel.
Panthers and pumas are believed to be alive and well in the Australian bush.
Big cat expert Vaughan King is on a quest to prove it. The former big cat keeper at Australia Zoo has teamed up with veteran researchers John Turner and Simon Townsend to investigate recent sightings of these elusive predators.
In one scene, Vaughan gets a report from a local in Stanhope who spotted a large black cat just metres away.
Vaughan immediately flies to NSW from Victoria. On the scene within 24 hours of the sighting, Vaughan tracks the animal and finds a large scat full of black hair.
Given its size and diameter, there is no way the scat could have been made by a fox. Vaughan carefully dissects the scat and sends it for hair identification and DNA analysis.
During the film, the researchers hear remarkable stories of close encounters, witness inexplicable livestock kills, hear terrifying animal growls in the dark and gather evidence to be sent off for scientific testing.
Simon and John have been on the trail of big cats for decades. Vaughan joins them on their mission. The film will highlight the trio's passion to secure evidence of a panther.
It explores what drives them to stay on the trail, despite the constant disappointment and public scepticism.
It examines the potential origins of panthers in Australia, while investigating sightings, photos and DNA samples.
The documentary features remote long-range camera trapping and culminates in the nail-biting wait for the results of DNA tests, which could prove the theory that big cats exist in the Australian bush.
The documentary is part of Mystery Month on Discovery Channel, which begins on May 1.
It features programs dedicated to unmasking the truth behind some of the world's most enduring mysteries.
Non-Viral Jokes
What did the cat say when he lost all his money? I'm paw.
Why don't cats like online shopping? They prefer a cat-alogue.
What do you call a duck that loves making jokes? A wise-quacker!
What did the finger say to the thumb? I'm in glove with you
What did one pickle say to the other pickle who wouldn't stop complaining? Dill with it.
- topics@newcastleherald.com.au
