HONOLULU (KHON2) — Photos taken earlier this week of an apparent large animal behind the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus sparked interest across the island.
On May 23, Oahu resident Donovan Luis shared photos of what appears to be a large cat in the rough and overgrown terrain near the East-West Center. He said he first saw the large animal on May 19, and then saw it again that morning.
The same day, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement officers were on scene after the agency said it received multiple reports of a large cat spotted in the area.
Luis said he sent the photos to state agencies on May 19, but didn’t hear back. Once he saw it again he said he sent the photos to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
“As soon as they saw the pictures they were here,” Luis said.
He said he knew some people wouldn’t believe the photos but he said he feels better sharing them and alerting the public just in case the animal attacks.
Despite potential dangers regarding the animal, Luis returned to the area hoping to get another glimpse.
“I like see ’em again,” he said laughing. “People are saying it’s a dog, and I just really want to know what it is.”
He said it was the orange color that initially caught his eye when he first spotted it. He said the animal was about 200 to 300 yards away and surrounded by overgrown brush.
“After my pictures, I saw it stand up, shake and walk right into that area over there,” he said while pointing to a rock outcrop. “It looks like a den kind of thing.”
He said animal officers were above that ‘den’ area and were seen throwing rocks.
On May 24, he said he saw state agencies headed up towards the area to place trail cameras.
And the viral photos peaked residents’ interest.
Nelson Chauncey drove to Manoa from Waimanalo to see if he could spot the animal.
“I’m a believer, yeah,” he said. “Especially when you saw the different angles of the photos, you had one facing forward, the other photo had its head turned.”
Luis admits he’d be skeptical too if he didn’t see the animal with his own eyes.
But for now, people are making guesses on what the animal might be.
Many people believe it’s a leopard, cougar or mountain lion. Others believe it’s a dog.
The Honolulu Zoo said all of its animals are accounted for and given the uncertainty surrounding the spcies of the animal, they said the behavior and potential danger remain uncertain.
They urge everyone to exercise caution and refrain from approaching wild animals, especially dangerous ones.
KHON2 reached out to DLNR for an update on May 24 but has not yet heard back.
DLNR asks anyone with information about the animal or sightings to call 808-643-DLNR or report it on the DLNRtip app.
“But I feel better now because if somebody got hurt or attacked, at least I said something, if I didn’t I would have been like ‘man, I should have said something,’ so yeah I definitely feel better,” Luis said.