Loose cheetah photographed on snowy B.C. highway

[Deleted]

Loose cheetah photographed on snowy B.C. highway

'My first thought was that's a cheetah. What's it doing there?' says Samantha Istance


www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cheetah-loose-creston-crawford-bay-1.3371078


A Kootenay woman who photographed a cheetah wandering along the side of a snowy B.C. highway says she hopes the exotic cat will be captured safely, and not shot.



Samantha Istance was driving along Highway 3A between Kootenay Bay and Crawford Bay on Thursday afternoon when she spotted the big cat on the side of the road.



"My first thought was that's a cheetah. What's it doing there?" she told CBC News Friday morning.



Curious, she got out of her car and snapped some photos of the animal, and noted it appeared to be panting and in distress.



Cheetah on the loose

Until the animal is located people are asked to be vigilant while outdoors, especially with their small children and animals. B.C. Conservation Services advises that a cheetah is typically shy and less aggressive than other members of the Felidae family. Regardless of it having a collar on, it should be considered and respected as a wild animal. (RCMP)



"I saw it had a collar on so I tried to coax it over. There is not really much reason for a cheetah to be in this part of the world unless it is somewhat domesticated or at least in captivity.



"But it won't come anywhere near me. It just kept wandering up the road, so I followed it up the road for a while, snapped a couple more pictures and tried again to coax it over."



Istance thought if she could get the animal in the back of her car, she might be able to help it somehow, but the cheetah obviously felt otherwise.



"Then it just bounced off over the bank, and it was gone."



Creston RCMP are warning residents in the area to be on the lookout for the large, possibly dangerous cat wearing an orange cloth collar, and authorities are hoping to speak with the cheetah's owner.



RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said in a release that residents in the area, along with the staff at the school in Crawford Bay, have been notified.



Cheetahs are typically more shy and less aggressive than other large cats, but should be treated like a wild animal despite its collar, according to Moskaluk.



Cheetah on the loose

The witness was able to photograph the animal and reported the incident to the Creston RCMP. It was observed to be wearing an orange cloth collar. (RCMP)



B.C. conservation officer Insp. Joe Caravetta said three officers are out searching for the big cat.



"The information we received is fairly reliable," said Caravetta.



"It can survive for a few days in the temperatures as such. We recently had a snowfall last night so we hope that will allow us to find its tracks," he said.



Can't be treed



Caravetta said since cheetahs won't climb up a tree when threatened or pursued, officers won't be able to use the same strategies they use to capture a cougar.



"We are going to have to try to maybe bait it, or get an opportunity to tranquillize it."



Caravatta said it's still unclear if anyone has a permit for the animal, which is required under the Wildlife Act.



"We are checking that right now," he said.



Anyone who catches a glimpse of the cat is asked to steer clear and call 911, or contact the B.C. Conservation Service at [phone].



Meanwhile the woman who spotted it, hopes things work out for the best for the big cat.



"I hope the poor thing survives. I hope this whole incident does not lead to it being shot," said Istance.

[meshaliuknits]

That is random.

Also I ain't trying to call any kind of big cat over to me

[karinothing]

I love that she wanted to coax it into her car. I am pretty sure that would not have ended well. I hope they cheetah gets help!

[Deleted]

It's way too Canadian that she tried to give it a lift somewhere.

Saskatchewan has a stray herd of bison (about a hundred of them), but that's more a case of irresponsible farmer and less a case of irresponsible cheetah smuggler.

[emisi]

Heh, lady, it's a cheetah, not a loose dog. Maybe you don't want to try and get it in your car.

[Deleted]

At least this woman was nicer to a wild animal than the one who had a bear eat her kayak.

[bimbi284]

Dec 18, 2015 14:00:54 GMT -5 @koko said:

Listen, I'm not going to lie, I'd be the stupid American who would try and get that into my car.

LOOK AT THE KITTY COME HERE KITTY KITTY KITTY OMFG YOU ARE SO GIANT AND FLUFFY LET ME GIVE YOU KISSES

And I would be helping.

[AAM2012]

I will say that I've heard of someone here in Arizona who tried to coax a javelina (a wild, mean pig) because they thought it was a dog.


Heeeeeeeeere cheetah! Cheetah!

[One Girl In All The World]

That time I googled "cheetah in a car"...

[underwaterrhymes]

Dec 18, 2015 14:03:39 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Dec 18, 2015 14:00:54 GMT -5 @koko said:

Listen, I'm not going to lie, I'd be the stupid American who would try and get that into my car.

LOOK AT THE KITTY COME HERE KITTY KITTY KITTY OMFG YOU ARE SO GIANT AND FLUFFY LET ME GIVE YOU KISSES

And I would be helping.

Me too.

I'd be like, "I read they're not dangerous to humans! I've got tuna in the car! Hereeeeee kityyyyyy!"

[LeggsBenedict]

I mean, if I had to run into a big cat on the sidewalk, I would want it to be a cheetah.

[pixy0stix]

I have no desire to have a cheetah in my car.

[epphd]

Dec 18, 2015 22:27:51 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

That time I googled "cheetah in a car"...

holy sheet! I think "big cat in a car" and I go here.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Dec 18, 2015 14:00:54 GMT -5 @koko said:

Listen, I'm not going to lie, I'd be the stupid American who would try and get that into my car.

LOOK AT THE KITTY COME HERE KITTY KITTY KITTY OMFG YOU ARE SO GIANT AND FLUFFY LET ME GIVE YOU KISSES

I have a secret desire to play with the lynx at the zoo.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Dec 19, 2015 16:34:04 GMT -5 @tooshort said:

Dec 19, 2015 15:11:37 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I have a secret desire to play with the lynx at the zoo.

They are cute but....no

But they're just like kitties. I mean, they play with mice and groom each other and everything.

[bimbi284]

Dec 19, 2015 16:35:50 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Dec 19, 2015 16:34:04 GMT -5 @tooshort said:

They are cute but....no

But they're just like kitties. I mean, they play with mice and groom each other and everything.

Right?! Think of the cuddle potential! Bigger Kitty = bigger cuddle, right?

[sfy]

Oh my gosh! It's so beautiful <3. From here. In my bed. Safe and sound. On the road, I'd be telling my husband to speed up and trying to snap pics as we whizzed by lol.

[sushi]

[tiramisu]

I just keep thinking of that poor baby out there freezing! I would be helping the other ladies with trying to lure it into a warm car. Just have a box for it to curl up in!

[meshaliuknits]

Dec 19, 2015 17:32:46 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Dec 19, 2015 16:35:50 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

But they're just like kitties. I mean, they play with mice and groom each other and everything.

Right?! Think of the cuddle potential! Bigger Kitty = bigger cuddle, right?

Yes. The cuddle will just be from the inside.