Will Killer Cat Turn On Humans?
By Kim Kelly.
THIRTY confirmed sightings, several savage killings and conspiracy theories abound - big cat mania has hit Northern Ireland.
Since the beast of the Causeway Coast reared its head three weeks ago Ulster newspapers have devoted scores of front pages to the elusive animal, which has earned itself hours of television and radio airtime.
The people of north Antrim have talked of little else since the cat was first spotted, as rumours fly about where it has come from.
If all reports are to be believed people are now looking for a light brown, black, large cat, which looks like an Alsatian dog or maybe a fox, is between one and five feet high, and has a bushy tail and staring eyes.
The beast can apparently jump five-foot fences, climb trees, swim rivers and has an unrivalled knowledge of the north west, having been spotted at Portrush, Bushmills, Ballymoney, Cushendall and Cookstown.
Despite being a nocturnal animal, the Causeway cat is often seen during the day and was even caught taking a catnap in a Ballymoney woman's back garden.
The mystery cat has been leading the USPCA and police a merry dance as it roams around the north coast, terrorising pedigree sheep and leaving dead chickens in its wake.
Despite searches by RAF planes, police marksmen and USPCA experts combing forests, the animal has so far evaded capture and looks set to continue its game of cat and mouse.
The three-week reign of terror started with a fleeting glimpse of the beast outside Portrush.
A 10-year-old girl walking on a back road claims she saw a huge brown coloured cat jump in front of her, stare and then run off.
Several other similar sightings within hours convinced USPCA and police there was a problem and they sprang into action.
To the delight of the media, who descended on the coast hoping for a glimpse of the wildcat, officers searched the area and began to lay bait.
The trail seemed to go cold until a few days later when large paw prints were found at a field outside Portrush.
Forensic officers took casts of the prints and sent them to Belfast Zoo for inspection, which confirmed that a puma or mountain lion type cat was on the loose.
Sightings of the beast began to come in from across the Causeway Coast, most descriptions matching the brown puma type cat - but others claiming they had seen a black panther.
And then the killings started - first a prize ram was slaughtered at Castlecatt, then a sheep killed at Cushendall and a lamb found dead near Ballybogey.
Police stepped up the search, donning night vision goggles and arming themselves to stalk the forests for the killer beast.
Despite many sighting so far, only one "hunter" has managed to take a picture of the animal with a rather blurred photograph of a black animal, not giving the USPCA much indication as to what they are dealing with.
As the days pass fears grow that the cat will never be caught and as winter approaches it may become desperate enough to attack humans to stay alive.
Farmers want the cat shot on sight and parents no longer let their children play alone outdoors.
But USPCA spokesperson David Wilson is convinced it will be caught.
"There is no need to panic. The public are not at risk from the animal. No one should approach the cat if it is spotted and all sightings should be immediately reported to your nearest police station," he said.
The Belfast Telegraph: 30th August 2003.