Puma Escape Drama: Czech Republic Recovers Runaway Big Cat
Attila the Puma’s 24-Hour Adventure Ends with a Vet Check
Josefov, June 13, 2024 – Time.news Staff.
A two-year-old puma named Attila went missing in the Czech Republic, sparking a 24-hour search that involved multiple tranquilizer darts. The big cat is now safely back with its owner, who faces questions about the unregistered exotic pet.
- A puma escaped in Josefov, Czech Republic, on June 11.
- The animal was returned to its owner after a 24-hour search and four tranquilizer shots.
- The puma’s ownership was not registered with the local veterinary authority.
- The owner is consulting with a lawyer about the situation.
The dramatic search for a runaway puma in the Czech Republic ended with the big cat safely back in its enclosure after a stressful 24 hours and four doses of tranquilizer.
The saga began on Wednesday, June 11, when the puma, later identified as a two-year-old named Attila, slipped its confines shortly before 4 p.m. Local authorities and the owner were involved in the search for the animal.
The Chase Begins
On the day of the escape, authorities only managed to hit the animal with a tranquilizer dart once. That shot proved insufficient, and the search continued into the following day. It wasn’t until the fourth injection, administered on Thursday afternoon, that the puma finally succumbed to the sedative.
Once sedated, the animal was safely returned to its enclosure. A veterinarian examined the two-year-old Attila after the ordeal.
Unregistered Ownership
According to the Regional Veterinary Administration in Karlovy Vary, the ownership of the exotic puma was not registered. This fact adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
Did you know? The puma, also known as a cougar or mountain lion, is the second-largest cat in the Americas, after the jaguar.
Legal Questions Arise
“The environmental department at the Sokolov town hall will now deal with the matter,” said Mária Slepičková, director of the Karlovy Vary Regional Veterinary Administration, on Friday afternoon.
The owner of the puma, who is consulting with a lawyer, is a familiar face in the village of Josefov. The owner used to take the relatively docile puma for walks around the village, where neighbors would occasionally pet it.
