With reference to the article on wild pumas in Sussex (The Argus, July 28), the obvious question is why are they not seen more often?

I spent the whole of last year touring the USA in a mobile home.

During the entire year I was privileged to see the wild puma once, when the animal took a stroll through the camp site.

The puma is such a secretive animal, National Park Rangers count themselves lucky to see it once or twice in their entire service.

Since records began in the USA, there have been fewer than 50 known attacks and only nine deaths due to the wild puma.

As there is evidence the puma does now live wild in Britain, perhaps it is time to publish the advice given by the American Parks Service in relation to an encounter with the puma.

Never run. Running will only trigger the hunter-killer instinct and the puma can run faster than you. Do not climb trees as the puma is a very efficient tree climber.

If you cannot back off slowly, stand your ground and scream as loud as you can.

If possible, throw something at it. If attacked, fight back by kicking and punching. All people who did fight back were injured but survived.

The most important rule concerns children. It is the child the puma will go for. Pick up the child and put it on your shoulders.

Some 260,000,000 people live alongside the puma in the USA and they do not consider themselves to be in any danger.

-Stuart Bower, Upper Beeding