New laws on wild animals

The USPCA believes a panther and a puma are at large

The government is preparing new laws to regulate the keeping of wild animals in Northern Ireland.

The news came as police continued their search for two wild cats, thought to be at large in the north Antrim countryside.

Leading animal charity, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has put mounting pressure on the government to tighten up the laws governing the ownership of dangerous wild animals for a number of years.

Stormont minister Angela Smyth confirmed on Thursday that legislation was being prepared following a parliamentary question from east Antrim MP Roy Beggs.

"We are actively preparing proposals for legislation to regulate dangerous wild animals kept by private individuals in Northern Ireland," she said.

"Legislation will aim to establish an appropriate regulatory regime in the interests of public safety."

The government is due to begin a consultation process on the proposals.

Mr Beggs said: "Apart from the recent headlines about big cats, there have also been difficulties with wolves being badly treated in my constituency.

"People who mistreat these creatures or deliberately release exotic 'pets' into the wild need to be made culpable under the law."

On Wednesday, the USPCA said a black panther was living near the village of Ballybogey, outside Portrush, and a brown coloured puma was roaming the hills near Ballycastle.

The claim was made as a dawn to dusk operation by USPCA and police officers to catch the wild cat drew to a close.

The USPCA said both animals had been released near Bushmills in July.