Authorities in Romania’s Giurgiu County are conducting an active investigation into the possible presence of a black panther believed to have recently escaped from neighboring Bulgaria.
Law enforcement teams were dispatched over the weekend following two emergency calls made to Romania’s 112 number, both citing possible sightings or traces of the elusive animal.
According to a press release from the Giurgiu County Police Inspectorate, the first alert was received on Saturday, June 29, at approximately 3:55 p.m. A man reported finding large paw prints near the village of Puieni, situated in the southern part of the county close to the Bulgarian border.
The caller specifically mentioned the possibility that the tracks belonged to the black panther known to have gone missing in Bulgaria over a week ago.Police teams were immediately sent to the scene, where they conducted initial checks and began a local investigation.
Despite combing through the area, no direct encounter with the animal was reported. Authorities have since kept the area under observation and are continuing to investigate.
Later that same day, a second emergency call further fueled concerns. At night, a resident from the Istru neighborhood in the city of Giurgiu contacted authorities, claiming to have seen the animal. Officers responded promptly and widened the search perimeter, but again, no animal was located.
Despite the absence of visual confirmation, Romanian officials are treating the reports seriously due to the potential risks associated with a wild, exotic predator roaming near populated areas.
The incident has captured public attention in Romania, especially as media outlets highlighted the fact that Bulgarian authorities have been searching for the same black panther for over a week without success.
The animal reportedly escaped from a private facility in Bulgaria, though official details about its origin or how it went missing remain sparse.
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, the search continues. The most recent reported sighting was near the town of Lovech, located in the central part of the country, prompting authorities to expand their search efforts there.
However, with no confirmed captures and multiple unverified sightings on both sides of the border, it remains unclear whether the animal has crossed into Romania or continues to roam Bulgarian territory.
Authorities in Giurgiu have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any unusual sightings immediately to 112. Officials also advised against approaching or attempting to photograph any suspicious wild animals. Local police, gendarmes, and environmental specialists remain on standby.
This incident has reignited debate in the region about the regulation of exotic animals in private ownership, with critics calling for stricter cross-border coordination and enforcement.
As the investigation continues, authorities on both sides of the Danube are racing against time to locate the black panther—before any potential harm occurs to humans or the animal itself.