Residents reported seeing a black panther in Dupnitsa, triggering police action and widespread online memes. A villager filmed an animal he believed to be the dangerous feline. Mayor Desislav Nachov visited the filming site with police officers to inspect it. Authorities questioned the witness whose video, shared with Euronews, shows a large black creature moving through tall grass. Nachov said officials have not yet decided whether to create an emergency search headquarters. The witness compared the animal to a large dog. Dupnitsa lies about 66 kilometres south of Sofia and near the Serbian border, over 430 kilometres from Shumen plateau, where the cat first appeared.
Previous Searches and Expert Analyses
Officials locked down Shumen plateau for nearly two weeks while searching for the panther. Authorities began the hunt on 19 June after paw prints and a viral video raised fears of a predator roaming free. Experts from the National Museum of Natural History doubted the claims. Dr. Stoyan Lazarov said the paw print likely belonged to a large dog. Professor Nikolay Spasov confirmed the print lacked feline characteristics. Search teams deployed camera traps and bait stations but found no confirmed sightings or traces. Georgi Krastev, director of Central Balkan National Park, described the animal’s movements as unpredictable. Rumours of a pair of cats or a pregnant female with cubs were dismissed.
Other Big Cat Reports in Europe
In 2021, residents near Bari, Italy, reported a panther, prompting authorities to warn the public. Eastern Slovakia officials urged caution in 2022 after a tiger appeared near the border. The UK also reported several alleged panther sightings in recent years, although experts questioned their accuracy.
