Big cat at the Geiseltalsee: Puma viewing causes excitement!

Big cat at the Geiseltalsee: Puma viewing causes excitement!

in the south of Saxony-Anhalt is currently looking for a large cat after a sighting in the area of ​​the port on the Geiseltalsee in Braunsbedra was reported on Friday evening. According to VOL.AT, authorities confirmed that the population was informed about the warning app Nina to alert the residents. Videos of sighting are now circulating on social media and were considered real by the police, which further boosted the search.

On Monday, the local authorities received the first information about the possibly dangerous animal. The police are currently monitoring the area in a large scale with a helicopter and several drones. Three teams are intensively used to track down the big cat. It is believed that 80 percent certainty is a puma, according to the Saalekreis, which also quotes the statement of a head of the authority who points out that people should not approach the animal.

search operation and security measures

The security precautions are extensive because the animal is considered "shy people". The residents were ordered to keep their dogs on a leash to avoid possible conflicts. According to zdf.de, an expert team was mobilized that could intervene when the animal is found and, if necessary, to numb the animal in order to bring it to a zoo.

So far there is no evidence that the large cat has been run out of a zoo or circus. Instead, you think that it may be an illegal attitude. A calf was also torn near the Geiseltalsee; Its carcass is examined to determine whether it was actually attacked by a big cat. This is reminiscent of an incident in which a supposed predator in Kleinmachnow was finally exposed as a wild boar in the summer of 2021.

background to wild cats

This situation also takes a look at the spread of wild cats in Germany. The big cat, which was spotted in Saxony-Anhalt, is a specific example of a larger topic about predators in Germany. According to BUND-Naturschutz.de there are stable populations of wild cats in various regions, including Bavaria, especially in the Spessart and in the Rhön, which underlines the relevance of species protection. For example, since 2010 numerous proofs have been documented in large forest areas of Bavaria.

This could lead to the current sighting in Saxony-Anhalt both the discussion about the legality of the attitude of large cats and show the need for a sensitive handling of such animals in the drafted space. The authorities face the challenge of ensuring security for the population and at the same time taking into account the needs of the animals.