‘What is the most cunning animal in the world? It is the one that you never see.’
Mystery Cats of the World by Dr Karl Shuker
The above words perfectly describe cryptozoological creatures such as the ‘black panthers’ sighted in Australia and other areas of the world. These reports deserve a separate article and interested readers are best directed to the above reference.
Three animals closely fitting this description here must be the feral cat, fox and wild dog. This trio are a menace to native animals and farmers, so hunters can play a significant role in humanly managing their numbers. We know they are around as they leave evidence of their passing. They become visible through the benefits of technology, accidental encounters or the efforts of hunters prepared to expend the necessary time and patience.
Animals in the wild are wary of human contact. Wild dogs that inherit genes from their domesticated brethren familiar with human contact result in a feral animal that can be even more ghost-like.
Sheep, goats and calves are particularly susceptible to wild dog attacks. Size makes them a vulnerable target and their usual behaviour on sighting a dog is to bleat, break and run, typical of
