A young black panther seen wondering French rooftops last week has been stolen from the zoo where it was being held after recapture, police officials said.
The big cat made headlines when it was seen prowling on roofs in the northern French town of Armentieres.
The feline had been able to slip out after its owner, who had been keeping the panther in their home, left a window open.
After its escape, the fire brigade managed to catch the panther.
It was subsequently transferred to the Maubeuge zoo near the Belgian border.
But zoo staff noticed when they arrived for work on Tuesday that the security door of the feline's pen had been forced open, officials said.
Police are checking footage from the zoo's video surveillance system.
The panther's owner is also wanted by police for keeping a dangerous animal in a private residence.
The animal is a six-month old female, according to a local animal protection organisation.
