Looks like a big cat track to me...

[huskiboi]

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

It is oviously a imprint. Otherwise we wouldn't have this thread started. Two very well known trackers have looked at this and it is made by thumb prints. I've looked at this with an open mind and examined the picture with photoshop enhancement. The evidence is very clear and pretty much unanimous here and across a couple of other boards too.

I do agree that this thread wouldn't have started, but 1 who is going to sit their and be stupid enough and creative enough to do such with their thumb logicically it would be alot quicker and easier to use an imprint or such if it's indented, it may just be the the shadows around the print its self that has thrown me, but even a raised subject can be made to look imprinted with a little knowledge of photography/positions and lighting etc.. I do know this as a fact from my school days and a photography course I had done, yet the psychology side says to me why was this photo taken directly over the print, surely someone who is looking and recording tracks knows not to stand over the track or tracks but to the side which would result in the print being sideways, and if you look at most other track photos they are taken from the side so why wasn't this 1? possible solution is as I mentioned I may not be an expert but I do look at things logicically..

I would love to do a proper course but unfortunately they are rather pricey, but learnt my tracking knowledge off my own back whilst I was a leader in scouting, successfully tracking various animals from badgers, a lost dog (for a local at a campsite) and always came in useful in a game of man hunt however i don't know everything and am always learning more about it by discussing like such with someone like yourself, in no way do i wish to prove people wrong but have thoughts answered and explained as for me to learn from.

Anyways conclusion is nope its not a big cat 1st is a fake no matter what n the 2nd is not a cat either

[ViperaBerus]

Who knows why anyone would want to fake it. As a joke, to create a conversation or just to be mischievous is my guess. In this case, it was not done very well though . And because it is blurred, it can throw you. The photo was acually taken in pretty much the same position that the person was in who created the print, which is why I 'm calling shenanigans on the person who took it. It's not a case of proving people wrong, as you say, but a case of getting to the facts and the truth.

There are ways to get detailed tracking lessons for free. If you go to one of your local BushcraftUK meets, you will meet knowledgable people who will spend time going over the technique and equipment over the couple of days you are there. It usually only costs £4 or £5 a night and the people are very friendly too.

[huskiboi]

also big thank you for your input into a novices brain and explanations/diagrams of such, wish you all the best in the future trackings

[ViperaBerus]

No worries, it's so difficult to explain things over the internet. Check out Ian Maxwells site Shadowhawk Tracker school - Home Page and News His books are well worth getting if you have the chance.

[huskiboi]

yeah I guess, I know if I would have found such I would have sent it to the proper big cats sites for analysis before posting on such a thread, as to get a "professional" view prior, with so many reports and prints of big cats and it becoming more and more into publicity unfortunately their are people who wish to ruin it by creating hoax and fakes and it drives me crazy, might have to give the bush-craft uk a go as want to expand knowledge in this field, but think I may stay to badger tracking for the time being as not only do I get the thrills of tracking them to their holes but also the children I do such for get a lot out of seeing the badger and I get some lovely piccy's after setting up a bowl of left overs from dinner to encourage them to come close enough to the children without the kids moving, but sometimes that gets scary enough when your standing in a tree stump and a badger comes and sniffs your leg