The authorities of Głubczyce, near Opole, have closed off forests after sightings of a mysterious big cat and the finding of a half-eaten deer, days after one farmer reported that several of his pigs had been killed, and another the loss of a calf.

A motorist reported that a very large cat had chased a deer across the road in front of his car.

Zoologists suspect that the animal could be a puma.

A special task force of hunters and forest officials has been organized to catch the animal. Polish foresters have also notified forest services on the Czech side of the border.