Rescued black panther gets stolen from zoo in France

A black panther, who was rescued from a rooftop near Lille in Northern France, has been stolen from a zoo. The feline, believed to be five to six months old, was transported to a local animal protection league after the capture. According to the mayor of Maubeuge, where the zoo is located, the panther was stolen overnight, quoted a news agency. Arnaud Decagny, the mayor, said that the panther was the only target and ‘considerable efforts’ were made to avoid the security systems by the thief.

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Captured prowling on rooftops

The feline is young and lacks strength as it weighed between 25-30 kg. The plan was to get it transferred to a centre which is specialised in rehabilitating domesticated wild animals. It was captured by the firefighters after it was spotted prowling on the rooftops near Lille. The firefighters reached the spot when they received a call around 6 pm local time regarding a feline roaming on the rooftop of a residential building in Armentières. 

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The fugitive owner could face charges

When the police threw a security cordon around the building, the panther slipped into the building, which was apparently the house of its owner. The prefecture of Northern France had told a news agency that the animal had been kept illegally by an individual at his home. The owner has not been located after he supposedly escaped fearing charges of illegal ownership of a wild animal. According to Decagny, the fugitive owner could face charges of endangering the public which is punishable by up to a year in prison and $16,500 in fines.

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'Have never seen anything like it'

A local newspaper had reported that the panther also encountered a 15-year-old girl but the girl managed to escape. "In twenty years of working, I have never seen anything like it. A snake, yes. But not a big cat like that," a policeman told the newspaper. "Imagine relaxing at home in Armentieres and a black panther passes in front of the window." tweeted Victor Lefranc, a witness to the incident. According to media sources, it might have been trafficked illegally into France as there was no chip on the panther or any registration documents associated.

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(With Inputs from Agencies)