Mysterious 4-Legged Animal Prowls California Streets, Unidentified Creature Generates Widespread Intrigue [Video]

A mysterious four-legged animal is prowling streets in Norwalk, California and it’s generating massive attention. Residents in the area fear that the unknown animal could be an African lion, an ABC News report reveals.

The cat-like creature seen in surveillance video isn’t a mountain lion, according to experts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who’ve studied images of the animal. Only hazy security images show the animal roaming street sidewalks.

Authorities say officials with the department continue to investigate what type of animal is seen around town.

Norwalk Mayor Marcel Rodarte says:

“The tail doesn’t seem to match up to the physical traits of a mountain lion, so it is still a mystery.”

Local zoo confirm that all of their animals are accounted for, so it’s not an animal that got loose from the facility.

NY Daily News includes the fact that many people around the country are having fun trying to determine exactly what the mysterious animal is. It does appear to be some sort of cat, but it doesn’t fit the description of any specific species.

The footage was originally posted on Norwalk’s Facebook page. The animal is wandering the 11500 block of Tina Street around 3:44 am on Tuesday, July 29th.

“We didn’t know what to think,” says city spokesman Jeff Hobbs said.

Craig Packer, a professor at the University of Minnesota Lion Research Center, examined the footage. He thinks the creature looks like an African lion, not a mountain lion. He shares:

“Yes, it certainly does look like an African lion. It’s not a cougar.”

Experts from all over are weighing in on the animal mystery. All they have to work from is grainy footage. It’s even been suggested that the animal is some sort of hybrid.

Dale Anderson, executive director and founder of the Project Survival Cat Haven in Dunlap, California tells LA Times that if it’s some sort of lion, it’s probably someone’s pet that got out.

“If a lion is out there like that, it shouldn’t be happening,” he says.

The cat hasn’t been spotted since last Tuesday.

Surveillance video can distort the size of things, and it’s estimated that the mysterious animal is no taller than 2-feet.

Some are saying this latest guessing game is as intriguing as finding Bigfoot. What makes this even more interesting is that none of the experts can make an official determination as to what kind of animal this is prowling California streets.

[Image via LA Times]