Residents in Dupnitsa claimed they saw a black panther, sparking a police investigation and internet memes. Authorities continue the search for the animal. A villager filmed what he believed to be the panther, showing a large dark figure moving through tall grass.
Officials Investigate and Debate Response
Mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the filming site with police. Officers questioned the witness, who compared the animal to a big dog. Authorities still debate whether to launch an emergency headquarters for the search. Dupnitsa lies 66 kilometres south of Sofia and near the Serbian border, far from Shumen plateau nature park where the cat was first spotted. Officials locked down Shumen plateau for almost two weeks after a viral video and paw prints triggered fears of a predator. That search, which began on 19 June, ended in mid-July without results.
Experts Cast Doubt, But Rumours Persist
Zoologist Dr. Stoyan Lazarov argued the paw print belonged to a large dog, not a feline. Professor Nikolay Spasov agreed, rejecting feline origins. Despite camera traps and bait stations, teams found no evidence. Search coordinator Georgi Krastev described the animal’s movements as irregular and erratic. Authorities dismissed speculation about two panthers or a pregnant female with cubs. Similar reports have surfaced across Europe: a panther in Italy in 2021, a tiger in Slovakia in 2022, and multiple rumoured panther sightings in the UK, though experts questioned their credibility.
