Police are searching for a possible puma near Munich Airport

Police in southern Germany launched a large-scale search operation near Munich Airport on Wednesday after a hunter reported a possible puma in the Notzingermoos nature reserve, near the town of Oberding.

On Tuesday evening, the man observed, using a night-vision device, an animal he said resembled a large feline. He also filmed it; the footage was later analyzed by a specialist, who said the animal could be a puma. So far, however, authorities have not confirmed the feline’s presence.

Police used a helicopter and drones and deployed numerous officers, but the animal was not found. The search will continue, while authorities are also trying to establish where it may have come from. There is no information about any circus with large felines in the area.

Local residents were advised to exercise caution, keep dogs on leashes and not leave children outdoors unsupervised. Police are asking them to report immediately any relevant sightings.

Germany has faced similar alerts in the past. In 2023, a suspected lioness sought near Berlin turned out to be a wild boar, while in 2025, a possible puma in Saxony-Anhalt was most likely a domestic cat.