Pokemon Go app halts service on Dartmoor amid fears escaped lynx could ATTACK players

A Pokemon GO app is refusing to cover an area of Britain in case users get attacked by a missing zoo LYNX.

An app called Pearlshare which maps global sightings of the game's characters says it won't be usable on Dartmoor - because they fear it could lead to danger.

Flaviu the Lynx escaped from the Devon zoo on July 8 and has been on the run since with all attempts to retrieve her so far failing

3

3

Fans of the Pokemon craze are now being warned to stay away from Dartmoor Zoo in case they come into contact with the big cat on the loose.

James O'Day, chief operating officer of Pearlshare, said: "It's with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to leave a blank for Pokémon sightings around the Dartmoor area until Flaviu is found.

"We felt that our users could put themselves at real risk if they are in an area where a lynx has gone missing.

"There's an extra worry for gamers absorbed in Pokémon Go because they are not really concentrating on what's going on around them.

"It's not just Flaviu that we are taking into consideration.

"We know there have been reports of amateur big game hunters with guns looking for glory and we are concerned about Pearlshare users getting caught up in the cross fire."

Pearlshare's Pokémon Go expert - known as Pearlshare Go - has put together hundreds of rare Pokémon sightings of the characters and their "gyms".

Related Stories

EXPURRMINATORS

Vigilante hunters armed with guns hunting Dartmoor Zoo's escaped lynx to bag trophy selfies

THEY LYNX IT'S ALL OVER

Desperate Dartmoor zoo keepers build huge trap to capture the notorious escaped lynx

GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL

'I haven't spoken to my mum since I started playing!' Meet Brits addicted to Pokemon Go

3

They include spots in London, Brighton, Birmingham and other international destinations, like New York.

The lynx - native to the mountains of central and eastern Europe - went missing after gnawing his way out of an enclosure just hours after he arrived at the zoo.

Staff, volunteers, police, dogs, drones and helicopters have all been searching for the cat without success.