http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/2589823/detail.html
Expert Confident Olinda Cat Is Panther, Leopard
Dog Gives Birth While Snared
POSTED: 9:49 PM HST October 28, 2003
UPDATED: 10:44 AM HST October 29, 2003
KAHULUI, Maui, Hawaii -- New traps set in upcountry Maui have not caught the mystery big cat wandering around the Olinda area, but they did catch another animal.
A wildlife expert from Arizona is convinced there's a leopard or panther somewhere in upcountry Maui.
At the direction of Arizona wildlife trapping expert Stan Cunningham, the state set 19 snare traps in a 20-square mile area of Olinda. Cunningham has trained 10 state Land Department employees about where and how to set the traps, which do not injure animals.
He said don't expect a quick catch.
So far, the only animal to be caught in one of the snares was a female dog that gave birth to nine puppies while caught in one of the devices. State authorities said the dog and her puppies were not hurt, and they were returned to their owner.
Experts believe the cat is either a black leopard or a black panther that could weigh more than 150 pounds.
The traps are made to snare anything weighing 30 pounds or more, so they won't trap mongooses and house cats. However, they will trap bigger dogs, deer and wild pigs which live in the area.
