AEurasian
lynx that escape from a wildlife park in Wales has been destroyed after it
strayed into a populated area, the local council said.
The
female, which was around twice the size of a domestic cat, had been missing from
Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in Ceredigion since October 29.
The
wildlife park had said the
lynx, which was called Lillith and was one-and-a-half years old, did not
pose a danger to humans but warned members of the public against getting too
close.
There
were several sighting of the cat during an operation by keepers, assisted at
times by a police helicopter, to return the animal to the park around six miles
from Aberystwyth.
However
Ceredigion Council said the decision had been taken to humanely destroy the wild
animal after the risk it posed to the public increased "to severe" following
failed attempts to recapture it.
A
statement shared by Aberystwyth central councillor Ceredig Davies on Facebook
said: "It is with deep regret that Ceredigion County Council reports on the
humane destruction of the Eurasian Lynx that recently escaped from Borth Wild
Animal Kingdom.
"Despite
exhaustive multi agency efforts to recapture the class A animal, the
multi-agency group responding to the incident received additional advice late on
Friday afternoon, 10 November, from a specialist veterinary surgeon that the
risk to public well-being had increased from moderate to severe due to the
continued failure of the Wild Animal Kingdom to recapture the
Lynx.
"The
safety of the public was paramount and therefore once the Lynx had strayed over
to a populated area of the community it was necessary to act decisively."
According to the park
said there have never been any recorded attacks by a lynx on a human, but
officials warned that they were wild animals with sharp teeth and claws and
"will attack if cornered or trapped".
Dozens
of people replied to Mr Davies's post expressing their outrage at the decision
to kill the animal.
One
wrote: "Question: if it was in close enough range to be killed, why could it not
have been shot with a sedative?"
Another
said: "Other countries can tranquillise big cats & other wildlife, capture
and move them to another location away from populated areas. Shame on
Ceredigion." Telegraph.