Villagers in Dupnitsa reported seeing a black panther, sparking a police investigation and online jokes. A resident filmed a large dark animal, which he believed matched the feared feline. Mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the filming site with police. Officers also questioned the man behind the footage, which showed a black animal moving through tall grass. Nachov explained that police have not decided whether to establish an emergency headquarters, adding that the witness described the animal as resembling a big dog. Dupnitsa sits about 66 kilometres south of Sofia, near the Serbian border, and more than 430 kilometres west of Shumen plateau nature park, where earlier sightings occurred.
Earlier Search Efforts and Expert Opinions
Authorities placed Shumen plateau under lockdown for nearly two weeks while they searched for the cat. The operation, which began on 19 June after a viral video and paw prints raised alarms, ended in mid-July without results. Zoologist Dr. Stoyan Lazarov argued the paw prints belonged to a large dog, not a feline. Professor Nikolay Spasov supported this conclusion, saying the prints lacked feline characteristics. Search teams set traps and bait but collected no evidence. Georgi Krastev, director of Central Balkan National Park, described the animal’s movements as erratic and unpredictable.
Broader Pattern of Big Cat Sightings in Europe
Rumours that two panthers roamed together, possibly with cubs, were dismissed as unfounded. Yet reports of big cats running loose are not unique to Bulgaria. Residents in Bari, Italy, claimed to see a panther in 2021, prompting warnings. Slovakian authorities urged caution in 2022 after a tiger appeared near the border. The UK has also seen recurring claims of roaming panthers, though experts continue to doubt their authenticity.
