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Residents of several villages in northern Poland’s Ciechanów County have been warned to stay away from woodland areas after reports of a large cat in the area, which could be a puma.
The warning applies to people in the villages of Osiek-Wólka, Osiek-Aleksandrowo, Osiek Górny and Stare Garnowo.
Local authorities have called for people to exercise caution and advised particular supervision of children until the situation has been clarified.
Head forester of the Ciechanów Forest District, Tomasz Dróżdż, told the PAP news agency that the big cat was reportedly spotted by an experienced hunter, a retired veterinarian and employee of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).
The man observed the animal using a thermal imaging device. According to his account, the cat had a long, curled tail and was roughly the size of a young wild boar.
After the sighting was reported, forest district staff were sent to the area. Near a puddle they found the paw print of a large cat, which may belong to a puma. For now, however, it has not been possible to conclusively confirm the species of the animal.
If the big cat is located, authorities say they are not planning to shoot it. The animal is to be tranquillised and then safely captured.
Residents should not try to approach the animal, chase it away or attempt to catch it themselves. If a large cat is spotted, people should move to a safe place and notify the emergency services.
This is not the first puma case in Poland
The current reports from Ciechanów County is not the first time this year that potential sightings of a puma have surfaced in Poland.
In July, a similar animal was spotted near Karsinka and Rekowo in the Polanów municipality in West Pomerania. The animal was even caught on video and local authorities urged residents to stay out of the forest.
In that case, the presence of a puma was confirmed and the animal was safely captured.
The young female was sedated and then transported to Poznań zoo, where she was to undergo tests and quarantine.
And at the end of June, a similar animal was also seen near Leniuszka in the Tuczna municipality.
An employee of the Chotyłów Forest District described it as a large animal with a reddish-grey coat, resembling a puma.