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Big cat in Saalekreis: Puma on the run – keep your distance!
A suspected puma is being sought in the southern Saale district, while an IS terrorist was arrested in Halle. Current developments here.
Big cat in Saalekreis: Puma on the run – keep your distance!
The events in Halle and the surrounding area are currently keeping people busy. On the one hand, the possible sighting of a big cat, probably a puma, is causing excitement, while on the other hand, a tough police operation due to suspected IS is dominating the headlines. Police have been monitoring the area extensively and warned the public not to approach the potential predator.
How mz.de reported, the sighting of the cougar was confirmed by a video recorded by an employee of the district office. Sabine Faulstich, the Saalekreis speaker, classified this source as “credible”. Experts are now 80 percent certain that it is a puma, although it is not a big cat.
Major search operation and all-clear
The search for the cougar is being carried out using extensive resources, including drones. There were even three search teams on duty on Tuesday. However, after some initial excitement, it quickly became clear that the sighting had to be put into perspective as new information suggested that the animal might be smaller. The search for the new level of knowledge was scaled back and the population was informed via the NINA warning app that there was no longer an acute danger.
If the animal is spotted, an expert should be called in to anesthetize it and take it to a zoo. The Halle Mountain Zoo has already given its consent for admission, and the zoo in Aschersleben is also up for consideration. The authorities are all the more surprised that they have so far no evidence of a possible escape from a zoo or circus. Rather, it is assumed that the animal's keeping may be illegal after all known animal owners were interviewed.
Horrifying incidents
In recent days, a shocking discovery has been made in the form of a cunning calf near a lake. The carcass will now be examined to determine whether a big cat was responsible. Such incidents are not new in Germany; Two years ago, a supposed lioness in Kleinmachnow near Berlin made headlines, which later turned out to be a wild boar. In Britain 20 years ago there were estimates of around 7,000 sightings annually, many of which were later revealed to be false, such as domestic cats or even stuffed animals.
Parallel to the developments surrounding the sighting of the puma, there was a dramatic police operation in Halle-Trotha. Armed police officers went into an apartment because a man living there was suspected of fighting for IS. This shows that the police in Halle are not only confronted with animal threats, but also with serious human rights violations.
The puma and its species-appropriate attitude
In connection with the keeping of big cats, the rescue of a puma puppy in Germany recently caused a stir. One such animal was smuggled from the Czech Republic to Germany at the age of eight weeks and lived under questionable conditions in a small apartment in Baden-Württemberg. The owner ultimately had to give the animal away because residents and the landlady raised the alarm. Stories like these are important to raise awareness of animal welfare. The puma now lives in the TIERART wildlife station and can no longer be released into the wild because it has only been exposed to human contact.
The current developments in Halle and the surrounding area impressively show how complex and exciting the situation with wild animals and their owners can be. Whether it's a puma or a police operation - the people in the region are facing major challenges and a lot to talk about.