The search and capture of the predator within the boundaries of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park continues
24 June 2025
For another day, the Director of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate (CBNP) Georgi Krastev and specialists from the Directorate are assisting in the search and capture of the wild animal from the Cat family, which was filmed on the territory of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park. The joint operation is carried out by employees of the CBNP, the Shumen Ministry of Interior Office, the Shumen Regional Directorate of Forestry, the Shumen Regional Directorate of Environmental Protection, the Shumen Plateau Nature Park, etc.
In order to locate the animal, numerous camera traps have been set, thermal cameras are also being used, and snares and one cage trap, provided by the CBNP, have been set to capture it.
During today's briefing, Georgi Krastev and Dimitar Mirchev, an employee of the DCBNP, confirmed that in addition to new traces of the animal's presence, unfortunately, there has been no recorded footage of the wild animal for the fourth day and it has not been captured. For this reason, specialists do not rule out the possibility that the animal has left the territory of the Nature Park.
The teams are on the ground around the clock. Big wild cats are active mainly at night and for this reason the main focus is during the dark part of the day. After the surveys carried out in recent days, experts from the Directorate and other specialists have managed to narrow the perimeter of the search for the predator and at this stage the operation is focused on an area dotted with numerous caves, rock niches and terraces. They are ideal daytime lairs for the animal, but are extremely challenging to inspect by the employees participating in the operation.
Experts urge citizens not to act irresponsibly and to be vigilant, as traces of the animal's presence have been found very close to the borders of the Nature Park. In order to ensure their safety, access to the "Shumen Plateau" remains prohibited.
If anyone notices the wild animal, it is necessary to report it by calling 112 or the toll-free number of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Shumen (054/874 913; 054/856 527; 0885/750 275).
The Ministry of Environment and Water appeals to citizens who report the animal to submit only reliable information, as direct eyewitnesses, since each individual signal is subject to immediate verification by the teams, and this costs both human and financial resources.
In order to locate the animal, numerous camera traps have been set, thermal cameras are also being used, and snares and one cage trap, provided by the CBNP, have been set to capture it.
During today's briefing, Georgi Krastev and Dimitar Mirchev, an employee of the DCBNP, confirmed that in addition to new traces of the animal's presence, unfortunately, there has been no recorded footage of the wild animal for the fourth day and it has not been captured. For this reason, specialists do not rule out the possibility that the animal has left the territory of the Nature Park.
The teams are on the ground around the clock. Big wild cats are active mainly at night and for this reason the main focus is during the dark part of the day. After the surveys carried out in recent days, experts from the Directorate and other specialists have managed to narrow the perimeter of the search for the predator and at this stage the operation is focused on an area dotted with numerous caves, rock niches and terraces. They are ideal daytime lairs for the animal, but are extremely challenging to inspect by the employees participating in the operation.
Experts urge citizens not to act irresponsibly and to be vigilant, as traces of the animal's presence have been found very close to the borders of the Nature Park. In order to ensure their safety, access to the "Shumen Plateau" remains prohibited.
If anyone notices the wild animal, it is necessary to report it by calling 112 or the toll-free number of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Shumen (054/874 913; 054/856 527; 0885/750 275).
The Ministry of Environment and Water appeals to citizens who report the animal to submit only reliable information, as direct eyewitnesses, since each individual signal is subject to immediate verification by the teams, and this costs both human and financial resources.
