Cougars in Western Australia facts for kids

The idea that cougars lived in Western Australia was a popular belief in the 1970s. People wondered how these big cats might have arrived in the country.

The Mystery of Cougars in Western Australia

Many people in Western Australia believed that wild cougars, also known as pumas, were roaming the countryside during the 1970s. These large cats are not native to Australia, so their supposed presence sparked a lot of curiosity and discussion.

Where Did the Stories Come From?

There were a few main ideas about how cougars might have ended up in Western Australia.

• The World War II Story: The most popular theory suggested that United States servicemen brought four baby cougars to Western Australia during World War II. As these kittens grew into large, powerful cats, they became too big to keep as pets. The story goes that two were released near Fremantle and two others near Bunbury.
• The Circus Escape: Another theory involved a traveling circus. Around 1961, a circus supposedly had an accident between Bridgetown and Nannup. People believed that cougars might have escaped from the circus during this event. This circus story was often used to explain why about 2,000 sheep died in the Duranillin area in the late 1970s. Many thought cougars were responsible for these sheep deaths.

The State Library of Western Australia even has records about these stories. They refer to the mystery as the Cordering cougar or Coedering Cougars.

What Happened Next?

The cougar stories gained a lot of attention in 1979. They were talked about in the news and even debated in the parliament, which is where laws are made.

However, the Agricultural Protection Board of Western Australia conducted a two-year investigation. In 1979, they announced that they found no proof that cougars had ever been introduced into the south-west region of Western Australia.

Despite this, in 1981, a large reward of A$20,000 was offered. This money would go to anyone who could capture a cougar in Western Australia, whether it was alive or dead. But no one ever claimed the reward.

Even years later, sightings continued to be reported. In 2018, people reported seeing cougars near Chidlow in the Perth Hills and close to Morangup on Toodyay Road. The mystery of the Western Australian cougar continues to fascinate people.