Puma alarm at the Geiseltalsee: wild cat or harmless dog?

Puma alarm at the Geiseltalsee: wild cat or harmless dog?

On June 13, 2025, an alleged viewing of a wildcat was reported at the Geiseltalsee in Saxony-Anhalt. This message was forwarded to the Saalekreis four days later, which led to a warning via the Nina app. Since then, walkers have been asked to avoid overgrown areas and forests. In a first video, the viewed animal can be seen blurry in the background. According to the Nius assessment, a puma is assumed with 80 percent certainty.

A total of five to six sightings were registered. A second notification of the site confirmed another video that shows the animal from a different perspective. Surprisingly, the animal appears significantly smaller in this video than initially assumed, which is why the large -scale search was finally set.

expert opinions and criticism

New Year's Eve Tamás, the coordinator of the Luchsprojekt at NABU, expressed significant criticism of the hasty diagnosis of sighting. Based on the inadequate image quality, he considers a serious determination to be impossible and suspected that it could be more of a dog, such as a Rhodesian Ridback or a plot hound. He also excludes a lynx because these animals have a short tassel tail and run high.

Despite the warnings and criticism, the question remains whether there was actually an incident with an exotic pet. Tamás explained that there are no current reports about missing big cats and that the zoos in the area are safe. Nevertheless, the possibility is present in private households.

exotic animals in Germany

The discussion about sighting also takes a look at the general attitude of exotic animals in Germany. Experts point out that the keeping of big cats, kangaroo and even monkeys is legal. Dog and cat remain the most popular pets, but there are only 33 animal species that are explicitly prohibited. Between 2010 and 2014, over 10,000 wild animals from 291 species were offered for sale in Germany, and online platforms make it easier to acquire exotic animals.

However, one warns of the risks. These include health risks for humans and animals if the special needs of the exotic animals are not met. Examples of problematic attitudes include a Sugar Glider or a cheetah in Heilbronn. While the attitude of large predatory cats and great apes is prohibited in some federal states, there are often no restrictions for smaller species.

The attitude of wild animals in private hands can lead to stress, illness and early death. There are only a few classic wildlife species that can be kept as pets for 100 % controlled owners, which underlines the need for careful consideration before purchasing such a animal.

The current events at the Geiseltalsee are just an example of how the topic of exotic pets and their responsibility is discussed at local level. It remains to be seen whether further sightings are reported. If this is not the case, the assumption that it is a harmless animal like a dog are the solution to this puzzling situation.