BUSH PROWLER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10450, 3 December 1927, Page 10

BUSH PROWLER

ANIMAL CREATES PA Nil

PURSUIT OF SUFFUSED JAGUAR

The Cootamundra district in Southern New Soutu Wales is excited over reports of a large animal which, has been seen prowling the bush and bands of armed men have spent several days in hunting it uusuecesslully. Whether it- is an ihitsize in dogs, dingoes or luxes, or whether if is a tiger or a jaguar that lias escaped from some travelling circus, is not yet certain, but the settlers are convinced that it is' something winch must be treated with respect and prudence. Recently one settler named Fox had a startling experience with it. Armed with a spot g.un he came lace to lace with the beast. He fired three shots at it. The first missed owing to the marksman’s high excitement. The second also vent wide, but Air Fox declared that the third took effect, at a distance oi 60yds. His dog then rushed at the animal, but the beast opened its mouth and crunched the dog to death and sped into the bush. Not placing too much reliance oil his gun, which had proved itself unreliable oil former occasions, Air Fox did not pursue the beast. Air. Fox formed a party of about 40 settlers and one day recently they searched- for traces of -the strange denizen of the hush. Mr lox described it as being about Blt long, without counting its tail, and with short legs. As it dashed away irom Mr Fox, it moved rapidly and silently and leapt with ease across a creek 20ft wide. Led by |dr Fox tho party went to the spot where he said be had encountered the animal, and there found the body of bis dog, which had been. ripped for four or five ' inches along the windpipe and shoulder. The claw marks appeared to be those of some animal larger than a dog. fox, or dingo, footprints ioi’nd bv the partv were also larger than a dog’s and mark's of blood wore discovered, indicating that Air I ’ >x , s sumption that he laid wounaed the' unknown beast was correct, r.nother mark of the unknown s depredations was the finding: of a dead kangaroo with its throat bitten through. Much of 'i.e country over which the search led. consisted ol rugged rocks and wild ouso. '■ owe bloodstains wore found on stones at the mouth of a <* tvo on the side of - hill, but none of the pnrtv cared to venture inside l > i-'Vevoiole. Experience ! b--it»)en deefarc Gi.it all the indict. Fn-s were that . the marks of the ’.cart v.err too I •Tin uable to be those <*i me ord.m-ry v animals of the Ausmanm mi-sli. 1c p- sieral opinion is mat On nr. >- * J' a jaguar. It w-'.s reported lbnt vbc a circus camped at a small townsmp in the district about a year ago, an animal escaped, and on another occasion four years ago live animals escaped of which onlv tour worn iecapturcd. Luring the last 12 months serious losses of stock have o • red in the district and settlers aie. now attributing thein to the iorajs of this strange boast.