Bozenka, the female manul missing from Poznan Zoo since Feb 25, was found safe and sound on Feb 27.
The Discovery
On Friday, February 27, Poznan Zoo announced via social media that Bozenka, a female manul, had been located. The post stated, “Our manul is back – whole, healthy, and… looking as if it had just been on a weekend city break, not an unplanned escape.”
Bozenka will be kept under observation.
Search Details
“According to the reports received, Bozenka was likely roaming near the zoo. She was spotted, among other places, in the area of Lake Malta and near Olszak Pond,” the zoo added. The zoo also confirmed the animal is in good condition but must remain under observation until Monday.
“Thank you for all the signals, shares, and vigilance. It truly made a difference. Bozenka is checking back in. And we can finally breathe,” the post concluded.
The Disappearance
The animal had vanished from the Poznan Zoo exhibit two days earlier, on Wednesday, February 25, also announced via social media. “During the morning inspection, it was noticed that the enclosures where the animal was kept had been opened. Our findings suggest she may have been released intentionally by an unknown perpetrator,” the zoo had stated at the time.
About the Manul
A manul is a small wild cat with gray, dense fur. It avoids human contact and is not domesticated. A distinctive feature of Bozenka is the absence of her left eye, which she lost in her youth.
As reported by PAP, this is not the first time a manul has disappeared from Poznan Zoo. A similar incident occurred in October 2020 involving a male named Magellan, who was named after his escape. The search then lasted several days, and the animal was found thanks to a report from someone who spotted it near a garden.
