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  Search for Northern Ireland big cat goes on
Updated 23 August 2003, 13.10
Northern Ireland
A hunt is on in Northern Ireland for a big cat, believed to be a panther, after two more people claim to have spotted it.

A spotter-plane as brought in to help police on the ground on Friday, when the animal was seen in fields in Ballymoney in County Antrim.

A local woman and police officers saw it, before it went away to hide, probably in a nearby forest.

After talking to police who saw it - who say it was bigger than a Labrador dog - animal experts reckon it is probably a panther.

It's thought the panther killed this sheep
It's thought the panther killed this sheep
But they added that they didn't think it would hurt people, because having been born and looked after in captivity, it isn't used to catching its own food.

On Thursday the animal was suspected of killing a ram living on a farm, after it was found with bite marks and major injuries.

The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals think there are around five dangerous animals living wild in Northern Ireland.

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