A black panther has been spotted on the rooftop of a building in a town in northern France.
Police were called to a property in Armentieres near Lille on Wednesday when locals spotted the big cat prowling the roof and going in and out of an open window.
[#Intervention insolite] Une panthère signalée sur un toit à #Armentières.
Travail coordonné des #policiers avec les sapeurs-pompiers du #Nord et l'office national de conservation de la faune sauvage pour la capture de l'animal et la sécurisation.
Une enquête est en cours. pic.twitter.com/EGIPFqXQC4
— Police Nationale 59 (@PoliceNat59) September 19, 2019
In a tweet, the local fire brigade said: “After a call at 18.23 for a dangerous animal, firefighters were confronted with a large cat walking on residential gutters.”
Working together, police and firefighters secured the perimeter and requested reinforcements before getting the identity of the animal confirmed as a panther.
The fire service said officers were able to contain the panther once it went into a house.
Once there, firefighters, police and representatives of the National Office of Hunting and Wildlife entered and subdued the cat with a tranquilliser gun.
It is now being cared for by the Animal Protection League.
According to local reports, the animal – which was around six months old – had been domesticated, showing no signs of aggression, and had had its claws cut.
The animal’s owner is being sought by police.
