Owner of Escaped French Rooftop Panther Reveals Bond with Exotic Pet

"I no longer saw her as a panther. It was like a big affectionate baby, who just wanted hugs," Nordine, the owner of the Armentières panther he had named Louise, told La Voix du Nord.

If he had decided to buy the feline, he explained, it was because Louise was in poor health, and was only three or four months old, had holes in her coat and no claws.

While Nordine was traveling in Belgium, Louise had escaped. She had "pushed the window latch" and was walking on the roofs of Armentières, which had caused panic throughout the neighborhood.

When the animal was brought under control, the Maubeuge zoo had taken it in. However, Louise was stolen a week later. "I couldn’t believe it. I really thought it was false," Nordine said.

"I never exhibited her, that wasn’t my thing. Now, I don’t know what those who have her today want to do with her, but I know she can be resold. Obviously, for me, it’s over, I’ll never be able to get her back," he lamented.