Police in northern France are trying to find the owner of a black panther after the escaped animal was captured at a residential area in the town of Armentieres, near Lille.

Firefighters and a veterinarian were called after the panther was spotted prowling across rooftops and pacing outside a closed window.

A precautionary cordon was set up to block all routes of escape but the curious cat decided to explore the inside of a house where it was trapped and put to sleep with a tranquilizer gun before being whisked away in a cage.

There were no reports of injuries.

The feline was handed over to an animal welfare society and is now housed in a zoo.

Officers want to question the owner of the animal, which is thought to be five to six months old.

A police spokesperson said that "no suspect has yet been arrested at this stage."