Mysterious Big Cat Sighted in France

Mysterious Big Cat Sighted in France
A dangerous feline beast on the prowl or just an overgrown house cat? Authorities in France believe there might be a panther roaming along the country's northern coast.
People in Boulogne-sur-Mer not far from Calais on the English Channel are concerned after what appears to be a big cat was photographed on Monday. French authorities have released pictures taken by a hiker that clearly show some large feline of some sort prowling in the tall grass.
"On the photos taken from a distance of 400 meters the animal seems to have small round ears like a panther. The tail and body are apparently quite long," a police spokesman said, explaining that an animal expert has also examined the snapshots. "In his opinion it's either a small panther or a very big cat."

The mysterious creature was first sighted on August 9 and was described as a four-foot panther-like beast. After a local circus said it was not missing any animals, police searched the coastal region to no avail for days with 80 men and a helicopter. Tourists and locals have become frightened of being attacked. An official first saw the beast on Sunday with binoculars and a team of 15 are still hunting it.
"Its simply a precautionary measure," police officer Therry Balon told the regional newspaper La Voix du Nord. "We just want to eliminate any risks." Armed officers are also warning people hiking in the area and are prepared to kill the wild animal if it leaves the small wooded region.

Unlike the young brown bear Bruno who was shot after killing several sheep and coming close to humans in Bavaria this summer, the cat-like beast in France has kept a lower profile. But this isn't the first time a big cat was seen in the region. In the summer of 1986, a panther-like creature was spotted in the dunes, but many considered it to be a hoax.
Speigel Online: 15th August 2006

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.