A number of people who reported seeing a big cat on land in Essex are to be interviewed in detail by police.
The sightings on Tuesday sparked an aerial search of Weald Country Park, in Brentwood, with people describing the animal as black and the size of a puma.
Police officers will liaise with wildlife experts to draw up a plan based on the information they receive.
People have been urged to report any possible sightings to police and not to approach the animal.
Pet owners are also asked to keep their animals inside.
A police spokeswoman said there had also been one report that a deer had been killed by the cat, although no carcass has been found.
However, she added: "Experts say that once a cat of this kind has eaten, it will find somewhere to sleep and take the carcass with it, so this report remains unconfirmed."
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