France on the hunt for dangerous predator near Paris

[Tonitrus]

http://news.yahoo.com/tiger-loose-spotted-near-disneyland-paris-125617278--finance.html

Police hunt for tiger loose near Disneyland Paris
Associated Press By GREG KELLER
2 hours ago

PARIS (AP) — French authorities hunted Thursday for a young tiger on the loose near Disneyland Paris, one of Europe's top tourist destinations, and urged residents in three nearby towns to stay indoors.

The town of Montevrain sent out a news alert on its Facebook page Thursday saying a young tiger was spotted in the brush behind tennis courts and a soccer field about 9 kilometers (5 1/2 miles) from Disneyland Paris.

An examination of a muddy footprint showed that the tiger weighs about 70 kilograms (154 pounds) and is about 1 ½ years old, said Clement Joly, a Montevrain spokesman.

Police and rescue squads roped off a security perimeter and urged people living in Montevrain, Chessy and Chalifert to remain indoors or stay inside their cars if they had to travel. School children in Montevrain were accompanied home after Thursday's classes.

Around 60 police, fire and other security forces were out tracking the tiger, using a helicopter with a thermal detector to spot heat, a specially trained dog and a wolf-catcher, authorities in Montevrain and Seine-et-Marne said.

Specialists who work with the Forestry Department were equipped with tranquilizing guns, said Cedric Tartaud, an aide to Montevrain's mayor. The search for the tiger was to continue through the night with more helicopter flights.

Where the tiger came from is still a mystery.

The Parc des Felins, a wild cat animal park 29 kilometers (18 miles) from Montevrain, said all of its animals were accounted for. EuroDisney, the operator of Disneyland Paris, said it has no tigers in its theme park.

Disneyland Paris calls itself Europe's No. 1 tourist destination with 14.2 million visits in 2013. Officials at the theme park said no special precautions were taken Thursday inside the park due to the tiger.

[Malthus]

Being chased by a tiger would certainly make a trip to Disneyland more memorable. 

[viper37]

here is a picture of the suspect animal:

[viper37]

I remember.  10 years ago, there was a panther hunt in Marseilles.  It turned to be a simple, big, black cat.
http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/societe/20040622.OBS1502/la-panthere-des-calanques-serait-un-gros-chat.html

[mongers]

Some Euro disney employee taking his work home is in for a big surprise:

[MadImmortalMan]

I thought it would be about Strauss-Khan. 


Anyway that pic could just as easily be a bobcat for all we can tell.

[garbon]

Has the Beast of Gévaudan migrated over the centuries?

[lustindarkness]

I thought it would be about Strauss-Khan. 


Anyway that pic could just as easily be a bobcat for all we can tell.

We've seen a bobcat on my porch.

[Jacob]

I thought it would be about Strauss-Khan. 


Anyway that pic could just as easily be a bobcat for all we can tell.

We've seen a bobcat on my porch.

You moved to Paris!?!?!?!?

[Caliga]

We've seen a bobcat on my porch.

[lustindarkness]

 

[Caliga]

I wish Michael Winslow would show up on my porch.

[KRonn]

Being chased by a tiger would certainly make a trip to Disneyland more memorable. 

As would chasing a tiger and catching it by the tail so it can't get away...

[alfred russel]

We've seen a bobcat on my porch.

Back in the day my college's SGA wanted to have more events. So they sponsored Bobcat Goldwith (or whatever his last name was) to come to campus to do a comedy show. I remember this because something like 6 people showed up. 

[Caliga]

Yeah, I guess Bobcat's career is pretty much over.  However, it's hard to feel bad for a dude who got to bang Nikki Cox back in the day.