A resident filmed a suspected black panther in Dupnitsa, prompting police checks and widespread memes online.
Mayor Desislav Nachov inspected the site with police and confirmed authorities continue questioning the man who filmed the footage.
Conflicting Reports Surround Elusive Animal
The video shows a large black feline moving through grass, though the witness described it as resembling a big dog.
Officials have not decided whether to open an emergency headquarters for a formal search.
Previous Search Efforts Ended Without Evidence
Earlier reports placed the cat over 430 kilometres east near Shumen plateau, where authorities searched for weeks.
That operation began in June after paw prints and a viral video fueled fears of a predator on the loose.
Zoologists later concluded the tracks likely came from a dog, not a panther.
Uncertain Movements and Rumors Persist
Search teams used baited stations and camera traps but found no physical evidence of the feline.
Georgi Krastev, Central Balkan National Park director, called the animal’s movements erratic and unpredictable.
Rumors of two panthers or a pregnant female also circulated but were dismissed by experts.
Big Cat Sightings Reported Across Europe
Residents reported a panther near Bari, Italy in 2021, triggering public warnings.
Authorities in Slovakia cautioned locals after a tiger appeared near the border in 2022.
In the UK, several rumoured panther sightings surfaced in recent years, though experts continue disputing their authenticity.
