Shoot To Kill!
By Claire Smith
TERRIFIED residents are urging police marksman to track down and kill the wild cat on the loose in North Antrim before it strikes again.
While thousands of tourists flocked to the north coast for the Bank Holiday weekend, police marksmen and trackers continued the hunt for the escaped animal, now believed to be a panther.
Experts know that the animal, which ripped several pounds of flesh from a sheep's carcass near Ballycastle on Saturday, will be forced to strike again to stay alive.
The animal also attacked a ram on a farm in Bushmills last Thursday and is expected to rest after its recent killing before moving on to seek out new prey.
At present police marksmen in night vision glasses and guns are conducting an aerial search of the heavily wooded and farmland areas around Portrush, Portstewart, Dervock and Bushmills.
However local farmers and police now say the wild cat, which has been seen dozens of times along the North Antrim coast, will be shot on sight.
“We first hoped that the cat could be captured alive however local people are becoming increasingly terrified that the animal will attack again,” Chief Inspector Allan Barton told the Times.
“It has already killed two animals and we are therefore now working on the ‘shoot to kill’ basis.
“Children as young as ten years old often help on farms and farmers say they are not prepared to take any more risks. They are also taking extra precautions with their livestock and locking them safely away in barns. “At present we are working closely with the USPCA and the Ulster Farmers’ Union and we are advising livestock owners to keep an eye on their animals.
“Farmers will be aware of the rights they have in relation to any animal seen in the act of attacking or worrying livestock.”
A spotter-plane was used to help police officers on the ground after the animal was seen in fields near Ballymoney on Friday.
The cat was spotted by a local woman who opened the blinds in the kitchen of her home near Ballymoney to find it lying in her back garden. It was then seen again by police officers who saw it crossing a country road. A full search was carried out but the animal was thought to have taken refuge in a large forest nearby.
“The public should remember that this is a nocturnal animal and will generally stay away from habitation,” added Chief Inspector Barton. “However we are urged the public to think twice before trying to track this animal themselves. While they are in no immediate danger it could hinder the official search.
“It was unlikely that it posed any risk to people. Even in the wild, these animals will normally only attack the weak and the lame.
"This animal has been born and bred in captivity - it's used to being fed on dead animals, like dead birds, rabbits or bits of meat.
"It is not used to killing to live - therefore I think it is of very low risk to us."
Ballymoney Times: 29th august2003