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The suspected big cat crossing
a field near Letterkenny yesterday

Is This Big Cat Killing Sheep? Garda hunt big game in Donegal

Belfast Telegraph: 15th March 2008

Belfast Telegraph
   
Experts were last night examining photographs and animal droppings to determine if a wild cougar was behind the slaughter of sheep in Donegal.
This picture of what could be a big cat was taken nearby to where the sheep were savaged. It was spotted this week in Manorcunningham outside Letterkenny, just a few miles from the border.
A Garda hunt has been called off while laboratory tests on the droppings are carried. Garda Supt Vincent O’Brien said: "We’re not exactly sure what kind of animal we’re dealing with. However, the sightings report that it was a large black cat-type animal, such as a cougar, that moved extremely fast across the fields and was noticed crawling on its belly."
This is not the first time there has been reports of big cats in the area. Last year there were similar sightings but the descriptions of that animal differ from this one.
"The one last year was brown and white. It was sighted a number of times last year and then it fizzled out. This one is described as black. It’s unlikely that it’s the same animal," said Supt O’Brien.
He urged eople in the area to remain calm but vigilant, and to report any sightings to their local Garda station There have been many reported sightings of big cats in Northern Ireland in recent years. The most famous of these, ‘The Beast of Ballybogey', which killed and horribly mutilated at least five sheep in North Antrim in 2007 actually turned out to be two dogs from the area.
There is believed to be a panther stalking around Poyntzpass and Markethill, and Cookstown, a puma is thought to be roaming the Castlereagh Hills and another is believed to be on the loose in Fermanagh. Reports suggest a lynx has made its home near the West coast.
The test results in Donegal are expected next week.

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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