A resident of Dupnitsa filmed a black feline, sparking police action and a wave of online memes.
The villager claimed the creature resembled a panther, and authorities immediately began verifying the recording.
Mayor and Police Inspect Filming Location
Village mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the reported site with police officers after reviewing the circulated video.
Authorities questioned the witness, whose footage showed a large black animal moving stealthily through tall grass.
Nachov said police must decide whether to establish an emergency headquarters to organize a full-scale search.
Previous Sightings Raised Nationwide Alarm
Dupnitsa lies 66 kilometers south of Sofia and not far from the Serbian border.
The animal was first reported over 430 kilometers east, near Shumen plateau nature park, which went on high alert.
Officials closed the area for two weeks after paw prints and a video sparked fears of a loose predator.
Zoologist Dr. Stoyan Lazarov doubted the prints, suggesting they likely belonged to a large dog instead.
Professor Nikolay Spasov confirmed this view, stating the prints lacked feline characteristics.
Despite camera traps, bait, and intensive tracking, search teams found no clear evidence of the big cat.
Uncertainty Fuels Speculation Across Europe
Search coordinator Georgi Krastev described the animal’s movements as erratic and impossible to predict.
Rumors about a breeding pair or cubs were dismissed by experts after weeks of inconclusive investigations.
Europe has faced similar reports, including a panther sighting in Italy’s Bari province in 2021.
Slovak authorities also warned residents in 2022 after a tiger was seen near the border region.
The UK has experienced multiple alleged panther sightings, though many specialists questioned their credibility.
