Happy end unlikely for operation big cat

By Mark Simpson Ballybogey, County Antrim

finding a needle in a haystack

The story of "operation big cat" is unlikely to have a happy ending.

Search teams are trying to find the black panther on the loose in north Antrim but they realise they have more chance of killing it than catching it.

The animal is about the same size as an Alsatian dog - but it's more muscular and much faster.

Police are looking for it in an area measuring 140 square miles but have narrowed that down to a 10 square mile hotspot.

Chief Inspector Mark Mason says "it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack - except this needle has four legs and it's not afraid to use them!"

There are four ways in which the situation could be resolved:

The animal could starve to death, it could be caught in a trap, it could be tranquilised and then recaptured or it could be shot dead by a police marksman.

The panther has been feeding on sheep and there are thousands in the area so it seems there is little chance of it going hungry.

There are no traps set at present but there is a team ready with a tranquiliser gun if needed.

The problem is, they need to be within a few metres of the animal to have any chance of hitting it.

There are also two police marksmen ready to respond at a minutes notice. It is an unpopular thing for the authorities to say, but the marksmen are more likely to be busy than the tranquiliser team.

North Antrim is arguably the most scenic part of Northern Ireland. It includes the Giant's Causeway, the famous Royal Portrush golf club and numerous beautiful beaches.

It is a popular tourist destination, but the big cat is an unwelcome visitor.

It has caused deep concern in rural schools like Kilmoyle Primary School in Ballybogey.

One anxious parent told me, "an animal has to survive, it has to eat. It's a worrying time."

A helicopter and a police spotter plane are helping with the search. Teams of police officers on the ground are responding to sightings.

Over the years many detectives have used the phrase "you can run but you can't hide". That may apply to humans but not to panthers.