Residents in Dupnitsa reported seeing a black panther, which triggered a police probe and online jokes. Authorities continue the hunt for the mysterious animal. A local villager filmed a dark animal he believed to be the feared feline. Mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the filming site with police officers. Police questioned the man who recorded the video, which showed a large black animal moving through tall grass. Nachov explained that police have not decided whether to set up an emergency search headquarters. He added that the witness compared the animal to a large dog. Dupnitsa lies about 66 kilometres south of Sofia and near the Serbian border. The village is more than 430 kilometres west of Shumen plateau nature park, where earlier sightings occurred.
Previous Search and Expert Opinions
Authorities locked down Shumen plateau for nearly two weeks while searching for the cat. The hunt began on 19 June after a viral video and paw prints caused alarm. Officials ended the search in mid-July without results. Zoologist Dr. Stoyan Lazarov argued that the paw print likely came from a dog. Professor Nikolay Spasov confirmed this claim, rejecting the idea of feline origins. Search teams used camera traps and bait stations but failed to find evidence. Georgi Krastev, director of Central Balkan National Park, described the animal’s behaviour as erratic. Rumours about two panthers or a pregnant female with cubs were dismissed as false.
Other European Big Cat Reports
In 2021, residents near Bari, Italy, claimed to see a panther, which led to public warnings. Authorities in Slovakia urged caution in 2022 after locals spotted a tiger near the border. The UK has also seen several reports of panthers, though experts doubted their authenticity.
