In the quiet neighborhood of Manoa on the island of Oahu, residents were startled by an unusual visitor—an exotic-looking wildcat roaming near homes and wooded backyards. Surveillance footage and cellphone videos captured the feline weaving through driveways and shrubbery. Its size, posture, and stealthy movement quickly raised alarm.
Local animal resource officers responded after several 911 calls reported a “large, unfamiliar cat.” Their mission? To locate, identify, and safely secure the animal before it could pose a danger to people, pets, or itself.
The Chase and Capture Attempt
The wildcat was first spotted early in the morning near Woodlawn Drive. Officers from Honolulu’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) tracked the animal for over an hour, using barriers and bait to lead it toward a safe area. Residents were advised to keep pets indoors and avoid approaching the animal.
Attempts to capture the feline were cautious and non-lethal—officers used humane traps and noise deterrents rather than tranquilizers, to avoid panicking the animal or triggering aggression. The chase eventually led into a thickly wooded area, where visibility and terrain made containment difficult.
What Was the Animal?
Officials believe the animal could be a serval—a wild African cat sometimes kept illegally as a pet—or possibly a hybrid like a Savannah cat, bred from servals and domestic cats. These animals can grow up to 18 kg (40 lb) and jump 2 m (6.5 ft) in a single bound…