Fearsome lynx big cat escapes from Welsh wildlife park

Fearsome lynx big cat escapes from Welsh wildlife park

Eurasian lynx gone missing from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom, near Aberystwyth

Police said animal, twice the size of a domestic cat, vanished over last five days

Lynx is tan and white with dark spots on back and legs, with a thick, stubby tail



A lynx has escaped from a Welsh wildlife park with rangers warning it could attack members of the public.



The Eurasian lynx has gone missing from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom, near Aberystwyth, and owner Tracy Tweedy is now setting baited traps to catch it.



Police said the animal, twice the size of a domestic cat, vanished some time during the past five days.





Ms Tweedy, 47, said: 'The lynx was last seen eating on Tuesday but on Thursday people believed they saw her hiding in the bushes.



“She has hidden before. We thought she might be hiding or injured but then it was clear that we couldn’t catch her.



'I’m pretty sure she’s still on our hill. The police helicopter believes they saw her last night.





'I’m pretty convinced I heard her up there this morning.



'Once we know where she is we can set traps for her.'



A park official said: 'We have fully-trained keepers on hand to deal with the situation.



'She is not used to hunting live prey but will chase rabbits and rodents when she gets hungry.



'Lynx can travel about 12 miles a day, but the chances are she hasn't gone far.





'We will be putting out camera traps around the perimeter of the zoo and relying on sightings by the public.



'Once we learn her location and follow her trail pattern we can set up monitored traps to catch her.'



The lynx, named Lillith, is tan and white with dark spots on her back and legs, with a thick, stubby tail, no more than six inches long.





A Dyfed-Powys police spokeswoman said: 'We are advising public in the area to be alert and vigilant.



'The animal should not be approached as it could become aggressive if cornered.



'The lynx is unlikely to approach people, but may attempt to take livestock or pets as food.





'It is a mystery how she escaped - we can't find any holes in the cage or overhanging branches she could climb.'



Police believe she may stay close to the zoo where her mother Denere is a star attraction.



Another adult female and two of Lillith's siblings are kept in the secure cage at the zoo which also has lions.



But the missing lynx is capable of fending for itself and could wander across country.





Ms Tweedy said: 'She is not dangerous unless you tried to catch her in which case she is very dangerous and has very sharp teeth and claws.



'We think she will stay nearby and the police helicopter saw her in a field not far away.



'But she is capable of hunting food for herself so we hope she doesn't go far.'



Baited traps have been set on land close to the animal park which was taken over by Mrs Tweedy and her artist husband Dean in May this year.



The couple paid £675,000 for the zoo with 300 animals, including the lynx and two lions called Zulu and Wilma.



The BBC were filming a documentary at the attraction when Lillith escaped last week.



Mrs Tweedy said: 'She is lovely to look at and quite confident.



'But she is wild, you can't pet her and she has never had human contact.'



A plan to reintroduce the lynx into Britain, where they lived wild 1,000 years ago, was slammed by the National Farmers' Union because of the danger to livestock.