Puma alarm at the Geiseltalsee: Wildcat causes confusion!

Puma alarm at the Geiseltalsee: Wildcat causes confusion!

Geiseltalsee, Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland - The excitement was great in Saxony-Anhalt when a wild cat was spotted on June 13, 2025 at the picturesque Geiseltalsee. According to reports from residents, the warning only reached the district administration of the Saalekreis on June 17th. Via the Nina app of the Federal Office for Disaster Aid, people were asked to avoid forests and other overgrown areas because there was a suspicion that it was a puma. One expert expressed that the probability that this big four -legged friend is actually was 80 percent. But not everyone agreed-[merkur.de] (https://www.merkur.de/deutschland/Raubtier-alarm-in-de- deutschlegt-puma-theory-93790003.html) reports that the warning message is conflict with the classification of pumas that are classified as small cats.

The situation escalated when five to six sightings were reported in the surrounding areas of Pfännerhall, Branderodaer Hohle and on the vineyard on Monday evening. The authorities stood against a mystery and could not explain where the alleged animal should come from. According to information from the MDR there was no signs of escape from a zoo or circus, and the district administration had contacted all known animal owners.

The debate about the identity of the animal

The opinions about the wildcat identity diverge. The NABU expert New Year's Eve Tamás critically commented and questioned the 80 percent probability, since the image material is of poor quality. He pointed out that it could also be other animals such as dogs, for example Rhodesian Ridbacks or Plott Hounds. A lynx, on the other hand, could be excluded because the sighting showed a long cock while Luchse have a tassel -like tail, which makes identification difficult. In addition, no references to Luchse have been known in the region, as zdf.de notes.

The idea that the animal could have run out of a private household is not unfounded. Tamás points out that there have been increasing seizures of wild animals from private attitudes recently. Identification is also difficult; The increase in sightings could also be reinforced by increased attention from people and the use of social media. The wild animal ecologist Dr. Sophia Kimmig explains that many citizens often have difficulty identifying wild animals, which leads to errors. This confusion is favored by the current summer time, in which food becomes scarce for many animals and they move closer to the populated area.

conclusion and outlook

While the authorities are still looking for the alleged puma, the events are reminiscent of a similar incident in Kleinmachnow, Brandenburg, two years ago, in which a supposed Löwin ultimately turned out to be a wild boar. The excitement about wildcat views shows how sensitive the topic of wild animals is in urban regions and how the perception of nature and wildlife has changed. If no further sightings are reported in the coming weeks, the excitement for the animal could be. Residents are well advised to keep calm in forest areas and on meadows and to follow the recommendations of the authorities.