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Stray dog sparks big cat hunt in Belfast
Monday, 1 September 2008
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A search for a large cat was launched in north Belfast last night after several members of the public reported seeing a lion on the loose.
Police officers and a PSNI helicopter were tasked to search for the animal in the Cavehill Park area of the city last night.
As news of the lion began to circulate, staff from the nearby Belfast Zoo carried out a check of all their big cats, including lions and tigers, and concluded all their animals were “accounted for”.
A police spokeswoman said officers now believed the animal was in fact a large stray dog.
"Police can confirm that there's no stray lion wandering about in north Belfast," she said.
The search was launched yesterday evening after several calls were made to the PSNI from concerned people claiming they had seen a lion in the Upper Hightown end of Cavehill Park.
Last night police confirmed a search was launched after a number of witnesses described the animal “as a sandy-coloured lion or large non-domestic cat".
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I told them not to leave that lying there. Should should be more careful with it!
Posted by st | 01.09.08, 16:11 GMT
It shows the size of 'dogs' we have in Belfast! It's difficult to tell them apart from a 'lion!
Posted by John Tooke | 01.09.08, 16:00 GMT
it just goes to show what rumours can do, i mean the people of Belfast must be barking mad if they cannot tell the difference between a cat and a dog, climate change wont make that much of a difference.
Posted by JD | 01.09.08, 15:37 GMT
"Herrrrrrre, kitty, kitty, kitty!" ;-)
Posted by David | 01.09.08, 12:04 GMT
goodness does any body no where the lion came from ?
do they think some has brought it in to the country or some thing as these big cats can do some amount of damage if it was where i stay i would be terrifed .please let me know how use get on thanks denise
Posted by denise | 01.09.08, 11:49 GMT
I hope the Police have a "Roaring" success in finding the cat.
Posted by Peter | 01.09.08, 10:04 GMT