The real life lynx effect

A Polish town's streets emptied - when a hungry big cat was spotted prowling the streets in a search for food.

The feline intruder wandered into Zegiestowie, Poland, in broad daylight after emerging from its normal habitat among the peaks of a local mountain range.

National park ranger Andrzej Ksiazek, who snapped the animal, said: "The mountains around here are ideal for the lynx, but this is the first time we've had reports of one entering a human residential area so blatantly."

"It was a Friday afternoon and he doesn't look the slightest bit put off by being so close to humans," he added.

Part of the big cat's confidence could be because it is a strictly protected wild species in Poland, with hefty fines for anyone shooting them.

"There are a lot of farmers who would like to get rid of them because of all the livestock they've lost," said Ranger Ksiazek.