Residents of several villages in northern Poland's Ciechanów County have been warned to stay away from woodland areas after reports of a large cat in the area, which could be a puma.
The warning applies to people in the villages of Osiek-Wólka, Osiek-Aleksandrowo, Osiek Górny and Stare Garnowo.
Local authorities have called for people to exercise caution and advised particular supervision of children until the situation has been clarified.
Head forester of the Ciechanów Forest District, Tomasz Dróżdż, told the PAP news agency that the big cat was reportedly spotted by an experienced hunter, a retired veterinarian and employee of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).
The man observed the animal using a thermal imaging device. According to his account, the cat had a long, curled tail and was roughly the size of a young wild boar.
After the sighting was reported, forest district staff were sent to the area. Near a puddle they found the paw print of a large cat, which may belong to a puma. For now, however, it has not been possible to conclusively confirm the species of the animal.
This is not the first puma case in Poland
The current reports from Ciechanów County is not the first time this year that potential sightings of a puma have surfaced in Poland.
In July, a similar animal was spotted near Karsinka and Rekowo in the Polanów municipality in West Pomerania. The animal was even caught on video and local authorities urged residents to stay out of the forest.
In that case, the presence of a puma was confirmed and the animal was safely captured.
The young female was sedated and then transported to Poznań zoo, where she was to undergo tests and quarantine.
And at the end of June, a similar animal was also seen near Leniuszka in the Tuczna municipality.
An employee of the Chotyłów Forest District described it as a large animal with a reddish-grey coat, resembling a puma.
Poland struggles with multiple escaped exotic animals in one week
By Adam Woodward • Published: 19 Jul 2026 • 13:16 • 3 minutes read
Missing emu, puma and kangaroo. Credit: NL X
Exotic animals continue to create chaos across Polish regions as authorities and owners scramble to recapture several creatures on the loose and causing chaos. Recent incidents involving kangaroos, a puma, and an emu have drawn widespread public attention and safety warnings from local officials.
Baby kangaroo vanishes from Podkarpacie corn maze
Owners of a corn maze in Lopuszka Mala launched an urgent search for their escaped baby kangaroo several days ago. Residents last spotted the animal near Trzebownisko, some 35 kilometres away, suggesting it covered considerable ground quickly.
Owners stress that forceful attempts to grab the creature could frighten it further into unknown territory. A reward of one thousand zlotys (€250) awaits anyone who helps recover the animal safely. Social media posts about the missing marsupial spread rapidly among locals and online communities eager for a positive outcome.
White wallaby joins kangaroo escapees in Jastrzebie Zdroj
Social media users in Jastrzebie Zdroj shared videos of kangaroos roaming city streets in the Silesian Voivodeship. These animals broke free from a private breeding farm, with one distinctive snow-white wallaby from the Macropodidae family appearing in footage posted by a local blogger.
Local police teamed up with the owners to track down the escapees. Animal shelter representatives confirmed the sightings and called on anyone encountering a kangaroo to contact authorities instead of approaching. Officials say that such unusual street visitors have nothing to do with holiday fatigue.
Puma sightings cause alerts in Lower Silesia forests
Peclaw commune officials issued strong warnings after reports of a large cat-like animal, probably a puma, moving through woods between Droglowice and Wojszyn. Thermal imaging footage reached authorities, though species identification remains uncertain without clearer evidence.
Local police advise residents to avoid forest areas until the situation resolves and to refrain from personal searches. Anyone who spots the predator must retreat immediately and report details to the District Crisis Management Centre. Speculation links this event to earlier puma incidents elsewhere, but confirmation awaits further verification.
Emu survives forest ordeal after fireworks scare
Garwolin forest district staff rescued a male emu named Fabis following his escape from a nearby property. Fireworks frightened the bird into fleeing over three kilometres into dense woodland near Huta Garwolinska. A hiker first recorded the ostrich-like creature on a nature trail, but it bolted when approached.
Search teams located Fabis the next day after he endured a cold night exposed in unfamiliar surroundings. Tired and hungry, the emu finally permitted close contact and returned safely to his owner. Forestry workers used the event to encourage greater care with fireworks around animals.
These back-to-back episodes go to show ongoing problems with exotic pet keeping and farm management in Poland. Public cooperation remains essential for quick resolutions and animal welfare. Officials across affected areas continue monitoring developments while appealing for calm vigilance from communities.
Other recent escapes of exotic, non-native animals in Poland include the following:
- Emu (Fabiś): Escaped in the Garwolin area (central Poland) in January 2026 after fireworks scared it; found in a forest and safely returned.
- Puma: Captured in July 2026 near Koszalin (West Pomerania) after wandering near residential areas; origin likely private captivity.
- Baby kangaroo: Escaped from a corn maze in Lopuszka Mala (Podkarpacie region) in mid-2026; reward offered for information.
- Kangaroos/wallabies: Multiple individuals, including a snow-white wallaby, escaped from a private farm in Jastrzebie Zdroj (Silesian Voivodeship) in 2026 and appeared on city streets.
- Capybaras: Two escaped from a private zoo in Gdansk in 2025.
- Bactrian camel: Escaped from a mini zoo in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in 2024.
- Red panda: Escaped from Gdansk Zoo in 2023 for several hours.
- Serval (African wild cat): Escaped from captivity in a village; owners appealed for sightings in recent years.
These incidents often involve private farms, zoos, or pet owners, sparking public searches and safety appeals.
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