A surprised German hunter captured compelling footage of what appears to be a big cat creeping through a forest at night. The intriguing sighting reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening in the community of Altenahr when the witness, safely perched high in a tree, spotted the animal with his night vision camera. While authorities confirmed that the hunter's footage was genuine, they conceded that the video is not clear enough to determine if the creeping creature is an actual big cat or merely a domestic feline. Be that as it may, police and local officials indicated that they are taking the matter seriously. In the hopes of identifying the mysterious animal, authorities have enlisted a tracker to search the area for any clues that might help in identifying the creature.

Meanwhile, Altenahr mayor Dominik Gieler called on the public to remain calm, declaring that "there is no need to panic" over the peculiar sighting. Advising visitors to the forest to be vigilant until the creature's nature can be determined, he stressed that they should keep a safe distance if they encounter the suspected big cat. While it is entirely possible that the hunter did spot something unusual out in the woods, the case could have a less fearsome explanation, such as the recent case of an 'escaped lion' in Ireland that turned out to be a shaved dog. What do you think was spotted prowling around the forest in Altenahr on Tuesday night? Weigh in with your thoughts at the C2C Facebook page.