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Big Cats Roam NI Countryside

Belfast Today: 30th January 2007

Belfast Today
   
UP to six big cats are thought to be roaming around Northern Ireland's countryside as sighting of the exotic animals exceed 250, according to a leading animal charity.
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals believes panthers, pumps and maybe even a lynx are on the loose.
The USPCA's chief executive Stephen Philpott said the animals, mostly panthers, have escaped from private collections and that one may even have been deliberately set free.
Animals were smuggled into Northern Ireland in the 1990s by a small group of dealers who bought them in Britain from zoo and circuses.
The exotic felines have been spotted in South Armagh where a panther is believed to have put down roots in remote woodlands between Poyntzpass and Markethill after escaping from a private collection. It is has been blamed for damaging cars and property and has been seen by scores of witnesses including a senior poliCE officer.
Another panther has been spotted prowling a remote wood near Cookstown in Co Tyrone.
Three pumas have been reported throughout the country as well.
One, known locally as the Antrim cat, has been living in north Antrim for about three years, and has been the target of police marksmen on a number of occasions.
"Another puma is prowling the Castlereagh hills while a third is roaming the fields around Lisnaskea in south Fermanagh."
It is also thought a lynx has found a new home in the countryside of west Ulster.
Mr Philpott said research has shown that the animals have now become feral, integrating into the wild, surviving on rabbits, chickens and carcasses.
On the rare occasion, they have also made a meal of a farm animal.
It is feared even more exotic animals will find their way into the wild when the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 2006 comes into force, making it an offence to keep such pets.

Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could give us.

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