A large black cat spotted a number of times near the popular resorts of Portrush and Portballintrae in Northern Ireland was yesterday confirmed as being a young black puma.
Mr Stephen Philpott, of the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, compared footprints found recently and declared that this was the real thing.
The North has much laxer rules on the importation of dangerous wild animals and there are known to be wild cat dealers in the area. It is thought that the animal may have escaped from a private collector.
Pumas can travel at speeds of 30 m.p.h. and can easily travel 10 to 12 miles in a night.
Mr Philpott said: "There seems to be no immediate danger to humans and there are signs that it has taken food that we have laid down as bait. It could however prove dangerous, especially if it is cornered and hungry."
The puma is believed to be living near a reservoir about a mile from Portrush.