ANOTHER sighting of a big cat has been reported in North Yorkshire.
A man out for a walk came across a freshly killed deer at Birstwith Top, on the moors near Summerbridge, according to the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
"The deer had claw marks on it and the man turned round to see, not far away, a big panther-type animal staring at him," said CLA regional director Dorothy Fairburn.
"We are concerned that farm animals could also be attacked because a panther, like all animals, needs to eat.
"In this case, if the animal is a panther, it will rest for a few days after eating its fill and can then travel 60-90 miles in 24 hours.
"We need to alert farmers to be on their guard and to ensure that farm animals are as protected as possible.
"We do not want to be alarmist, but what we have heard makes us believe that it is better to err on the side of caution than to ignore the report."
Updated: 12:45 Tuesday, March 08, 2005
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