Amateur sleuths reveal big cat sightings northwest of Melbourne

VICTORIA’S elusive big cat might have finally been cornered. A team of amateur sleuths are using new technology to try to capture video of the mysterious animals.

Amateur sleuths Sarah Alsop and Kevin Braunton say a number of reports suggest the mysterious animal could be lurking in state forest and private properties northwest of Melbourne. Picture: Jason Edwards

VICTORIA’S elusive big cat might finally have been cornered.

A team of amateur sleuths says a number of reports suggest the animal — or animals — could be lurking in state forest and private properties in two areas north and east of Melbourne.

The founders of the Victorian Big Cats Research Group will use motion cameras and a speaker that emits the sound of a rabbit in distress in the hope of finally catching an animal in action.

Brought together by a shared passion for identifying Victoria’s elusive big cats once and for all, motor mechanic Kevin Braunton and hospitality worker Sarah Alsop said there was no question that something was lurking in the Victorian bush.

“The mystery isn’t whether or not they are out there,’’ Mr Braunton said. “The mystery is what’s out there.’’

It comes just a week after Lilydale resident Kevin Manners reported seeing a “sleek, muscular, jet-black cat’’ cross his path while walking along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct at Warburton East.

It is the second sighting in four months after a couple driving on a bush track near the Maroondah Reservoir reported seeing two similar animals.

Mr Braunton has also investigated an attack on a horse on a private property at Riddells Creek earlier this year.

It was found with a severe laceration to its back just two months after a neighbour had reported seeing a black cat on the prowl.

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A report released by the former Baillieu government in 2012 found no evidence to suggest big cats existed. It said sightings were more likely to be large feral cats.

But not everybody is convinced. Rochford resident Jodie Rogers is adamant after she saw a big cat while riding motorbikes eight years ago.

“It wasn’t a dog or a kangaroo,’’ she said.

“Its tail was in line with its back and it was big and fast. I’ve seen plenty of feral cats; this was bigger than that.’’

Investigators believe a big cat is responsible for these wounds on a horse at Riddells Creek last month.

Recent sightings have been posted by the Victorian Big Cats Research Group on Facebook. The group also now has a YouTube channel.

Mr Braunton said the group was open to any theories including that the cats could actually be an unidentified native marsupial. He said another possible explanation was that the cats were released by a safari park at Rockbank after it closed in the 1970s.

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More elaborate theories include the cats being used as mascots and released by US soldiers or even gold rush diggers using them for security.

“If it was an unidentified marsupial, it would be amazing,’’ Mr Braunton said. “But that it’s a known species of big cat is more plausible.”

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