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Hunt on for Big Cat Blamed for Attacking Sheep

Derry Journal: 18th March 2008

The Derry Journal
   
The hunt is on for a mysterious big cat blamed for attacking a sheep just miles from Derry.
It is thought that the animal - spotted in the Manorcunningham area - could be either a black leopard or jaguar.
Both the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Garda have assessed the situation and developed an action plan should the animal be sighted again.
ISPCA spokesperson, Kevin McGinley, revealed that there had been several sightings in the past month since a Letterkenny farmer reported a sheep kill on his property.
"I believe it certainly wasn't killed by domestic dogs which did alarm me. So I thought the most sensible and prudent thing to do would be to remove any hair and faecal samples found around the kill area and send them away for a full investigation," Mr McGinley said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Irish Farmers' Association said farmers should be concerned and vigilant, but not alarmed by the sightings.
The full article contains 171 words and appears in Foyle News newspaper.

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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