Nature conservationists and law enforcement agencies are uniting to manage a potential threat from a wild animal in the Shumen region.

The inspection of the registers of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water - Shumen did not establish the presence of an animal from the "Wild Cats" order in the area. However, last night a signal was received on the Inspectorate's emergency phone about a large animal seen in the "Shumenska Plateau" Nature Park. The Director of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water, Stella Ilieva, immediately informed the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Shumen, the Regional Governor, and the specialized sector of the Ministry of Interior.

About an hour after receiving the signal, the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water, together with the law enforcement authorities, took action to restrict public access to the park. The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water - Shumen requested assistance from the Varna Zoo to include a team of specialists in the operation to sedate the animal, in order to ensure the safety of the people and avoid injuring the predator.

According to experts from the National Service for Animal Protection Directorate at the Ministry of Environment and Water, the import, acquisition, sale, possession, and breeding of wild cats, except in zoos and rescue centers, is prohibited by law. The term "Wild Cats" covers all representatives of the Cat family (Felidae), except domestic cats. Large species such as lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and puma are dangerous to humans, as they hunt large prey, and the specimens kept in captivity are even more unpredictable.

For these reasons, the Ministry of Environment and Water recommended that the law enforcement authorities restrict access to the area where the animal was spotted, to prevent danger to the health and life of visitors. To this end, a coordination headquarters has been set up, involving representatives of the Shumen Municipality, the Regional Forestry Directorate, and the Directorate of the "Shumenska Plateau" Nature Park.