Puma Hunt in West Pomerania: Crisis Task Force Established

Local authorities have activated a crisis task force in West Pomerania after a predator, believed to be a puma, was spotted by a hunter and sighted multiple times near Polanów and Rekowo.

Escalating Public Safety Concerns

The Manowo Forest District has issued an official warning following sightings of a large feline predator near Rekowo. The Polanów City Hall also reported a similar sighting near Karsinka, urging residents to avoid forest complexes and surrounding areas until official operations conclude.

Local residents are increasingly fearful of an encounter, particularly if the animal becomes hungry. While wild animals typically avoid humans, there is significant concern that the creature may turn aggressive if desperate for food.

Official Search and Capture Efforts

A Gminny Crisis Task Force has been formed to track and capture the predator, with the intent of relocating it to the Poznań Zoo. Authorities urge the public to maintain a safe distance and report any sightings immediately to the designated emergency numbers: 515 151 086 or 519 195 848.

The Regional Directorate of State Forests in Szczecinek is deploying camera traps and forest guard patrols to the area. Officials noted that the current berry-picking season has brought many people into the forests, increasing the urgency of the situation.

Details of the Hunter’s Sighting

The alarm was raised on July 9 after a hunter reported and recorded the animal at close range. According to Maciej Wiórek from the Regional Directorate of State Forests, the animal showed signs of being elderly or partially deaf, as it reacted sluggishly to warning shots and noise.

The high quality of the hunter’s video evidence has led forestry officials to dismiss theories that the animal is a lynx or cheetah, confirming that all signs point to a puma. This follows previous, unsuccessful efforts to locate a similar predator in the Będzino municipality earlier this year.