Gardaí in Co Monaghan have urged parents in the Newbliss area to keep their children indoors at night time after reports that a wildcat attacked animals on two separate farms.
A calf apparently attacked and killed at one farm on Friday night has been examined by Department of Agriculture inspectors. The farmer reported that animals were also attacked on Saturday night. Another farmer came forward today to report that eight ducks on his property were attacked and killed by a large, black cat just over two weeks ago.
Gardai said the animal was described by one farmer as bigger than a fox and "jet black" in colour.
One Garda in Clones said he did not wish to create any panic, but that parents in the area should be aware of the reported sightings and attacks on animals. He said a Department of Agriculture official had examined the dead calf and was satisfied it had not been killed by a fox because of the teethmarks.
The Garda said the second farmer, who said his ducks had been killed by the cat two weeks ago, had not come forward until the other reports emerged today because he was afraid he would not be believed.
He urged parents to look out for the animal and to keep children close to home after dark.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture confirmed officials were 'liaising' with the Garda authorities. However, he added it was unclear how the injuries to animals in the area had occurred.
There were reported sightings of wild cats in Antrim, Derry and Tyrone last summer. A newborn calf was killed near Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in August 2003.
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the police said at the time they did not believe the animals posed a serious danger to people. The USPCA claimed there were five such puma-type animals roaming around Northern Ireland.
Newbliss is approximately eight miles from Clones on the road to Ballybay.