Lynx on the loose after escaping British zoo

Poice say the animal “should not be approached as it could become dangerous if alarmed or cornered”.

LONDON // A two-year-old male lynx has escaped from a zoo in southwestern England.

The wild animal – about the size of a large domestic cat – escaped from Dartmoor Zoological Park on Thursday morning.

Poice have said the animal “should not be approached as it could become dangerous if alarmed or cornered”.

They are urging members of the public to call the 999 emergency helpline if they spot the feline.

Police have called in a helicopter to search for the wild cat, while officers are visiting local schools to offer safety advice, and going house-to-house asking people to remain indoors.

The lynx is a stealthy predator that has been extinct in Britain for over 1,000 years and remains endangered in parts of Europe.

* Associated Press