Police are searching for a big cat around the Geiseltalsee in Saxony-Anhalt, after two sightings were reported to authorities within a couple of days. The public has been warned to not approach the animal if they do encounter it.
Big cat sightings reported in Geiseltalsee, Saxony-Anhalt
According to a message issued by the warning apps Katwarn and Nina, a large cat was spotted near the harbour in Braunsbedra, in the evening on Friday, June 13. Braunsbedra is a small town in the Saalekreis district of Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 50 kilometres east of Leipzig.
Authorities were alerted to a video that was circulating on social media, apparently showing a large cat walking through the undergrowth. The Saalekreis public order office told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung that it had confirmed the video was not a fake, and that experts confirmed the video showed a big cat, possibly a puma.
On Tuesday morning, T-online reported that the big cat had been spotted for a second time, although it was not clear whether the sighting came from the authorities or a member of the public.
A police helicopter combed the area around the Geiseltalsee throughout the night from Monday to Tuesday, and a meeting has been scheduled between the municipality and district office to discuss next steps. Authorities told MDR they would be contacting all animal parks and known keepers in the area today to try to find out if anyone is missing a big cat.
Public warned not to approach the animal
The public has been warned to avoid meadows and forests for the time being, and report any possible sightings to the fire department. Anyone who does encounter the big cat has been warned not to approach it under any circumstances.
The incident is reminiscent of one that took place in the summer of 2023, when a lion was believed to be on the loose in Kleinmachnow, a region of Brandenburg. A large-scale operation was launched after a blurry video seemed to show a big cat roaming through a residential area.
After 30 hours of searching, multiple alerts and alleged sightings, it was decided that the video most probably showed a wild boar, and the operation was called off.