A black panther known to have been roaming a forest in southern Belgium for several weeks has been spotted near the town of Malmedy, the RTBF channel reported.

It remains unclear how the animal ended up on the loose in Wallonia.

German experts who have been called in to catch the creature spotted it on Saturday night, but were unable to get within range to fire a tranquilizer.

"The tracks they have traced on the site are undoubtedly those of a panther, and they also saw the animal that night," police official Emile Delhez said.

The specialists, who are using a panther cub as a bait, will need to wait until the panther approaches to within 70-100 meters to tranquilize it.

No French or Belgian zoos or circuses have reported the escape of a panther. Local authorities believe the animal fled from a private owner.

BRUSSELS, November 16 (RIA Novosti)