Spain’s Civil Guard searched for a black panther near a small village
Residents of Ventas de Huelma, in Andalusia, declared that they had seen a large feline and heard roars.
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A Civil Guard helicopter and multiple volunteers from Spain’s Civil Protection agency were searching for a black panther in Ventas de Huelma, a small village in the southern province of Granada.
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Local authorities warned about the animal’s presence after several residents reported that they had seen it on Friday, 11th September 2020.
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A spokesperson from Spain’s Civil Guard, however, said they couldn’t confirm whether or not the panther really existed.
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The first alert came at around 8pm on Friday.
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That day a married couple spotted a large black animal that they identified as a panther when they were walking just 300 metres from the village.
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The mayor was warned of the sighting on Saturday morning, and immediately informed the public.
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On Sunday morning, the Civil Guard’s Seprona organized a ground team and a helicopter search.
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But by Monday afternoon nobody had seen the creature.
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That evening Civil Guard officers were preparing to explore the area again using night vision equipment.
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The goal was to start the search at sunset, when black panthers are most active.
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Finally, a member of the Civil Protection group also saw the animal.
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“Little by little we’re corroborating that what the couple saw was true,” said the mayor.
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Some residents claimed they had heard panther-like sounds too.
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The following days villagers were advised to stay away from the fields outside town, and call the emergency services if they recognized the panther.