Black leopard reported prowling in Dayton area

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Animal control authorities in southwest Ohio say a black leopard has been seen in the Dayton area three times this year.

According to the Dayton Daily News, one sighting was reported by a person who described the animal as larger than a black Labrador retriever and having a long bushy tail.

Director Tim Harrison of wildlife education group Outreach for Animals says there hasn’t been a sighting since April. Harrison says a number of people around Dayton own leopards and African lions.

Maj. Dave Hale with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office says if there is a loose leopard out there, it could be far from the area by now. He says no one ever reported a pet leopard was missing.