'Big Cat' Alert After Sheep Found Dead.
By Kim Kelly.
ONE of the elusive big cats which have been terrorising the north Antrim coast may have killed again after the mauled carcass of a sheep was found in a field near Ballycastle.
The dead sheep was discovered in a field at Lisnagat Road near the Dry Ach outside Ballycastle by Co Antrim farmer Paddy Brown, who believes his animal is the latest victim of the big cats.
The sheep appeared to have had its ears eaten off and had puncture marks on its neck, both of which are hallmarks of a big cat attack.
"This was no ordinary animal. The side of the sheep's head has been badly savaged, I can only think that it was the panther," said Mr Brown.
Mr Brown reported the incident to the USPCA's chief executive Stephen Philpott, who confirmed that the sheep had not been killed by a fox, dog or badger.
He could not, however, confirm that a panther or the puma had been responsible.
The wild cats - one believed to be a black panther and the other a sandy coloured North American puma - are currently on the loose in the Co Antrim countryside between Bushmills and Ballycastle after a private collector set them free last summer.
During the summer the beasts were spotted regularly by tourists and farmers and it is believed they may have killed animals on five different occasions.
Farmers in Bushmills, Benvardin and Ballybogey who found livestock slaughtered remain convinced that their animals were killed by the big cats and have criticised police and the USPCA for their inaction.
Despite extensive searches by police, Army and USPCA inspectors through the remote Co Antrim countryside, using infra-red tracking devices and RAF spotter planes, the animals remain at large.
A one-day search in September also proved fruitless and the USPCA's Mr Philpott said the hunt for the cats was to be scaled down and the animals were to be left to integrate into the countryside.
Farmers living near Ballybogey still regularly catch sight of the animals and police have urged anyone who sees the wild cats to report the sightings to their local police station immediately.
Officials at Ballymoney Borough Council have also urged a greater commitment to capturing the animals.
Belfast Telegraph: 3rd December 2003.