Search for possible large wild cat in Mānoa called off

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A picture’s worth a thousand words, but a blurry one gives birth to a thousand theories.

These grainy photos snapped last week of a mystery animal near the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus piqued public interest.

“Some people like, I show them the picture, and I’ve been hearing mountain lion, cheetah,” Donovan Luis explained.

Luis said he first spotted the mystery animal on the ridge across from the Hawaiʻi Imin International Conference Center on May 19, just after 6 p.m.

Then he said he saw it again Friday, launching a search by DLNR, DOCARE officers to uncover the truth.

“We did not actually see the animal,” DLNR Enforcement Chief Jason Redulla explained. “We were not able to locate any evidence of the animal’s presence in the area. So things like tracks, paw prints, you know, biological matter that may have been left behind.”

Without evidence, he said they ended the search.

“We left it at that, pending additional information that might come in from other witnesses.”

While Redulla admitted it looks like some kind of animal, attempts to identify it using the blurry photo were inconclusive.

“It would really help us if people see the animal that they one, take a clear photo of it and send it to us, that would help our wildlife biologist identify the animal so we can determine what we’re dealing with,” he said.

This isn’t the first time DLNR’s gotten reports like this. Three years ago, on the Big Island, several videos captured what appeared to be a large wildcat.

“As far as I’ve been with the department, they’ve never panned out into an actual capture, or an actual confirmed sighting of some kind of large wild cat,” Redulla explained.

But there is one report he recalled that was confirmed.

“You might remember back in the 80s, there was a sighting of a caiman in Nuʻuanu Reservoir, which turned out to be true,” he said.

As for this sighting, Luis said he plans to keep looking.

“Iʻve seen it, and I think it’s a big cat,” Luis explained. “I don’t know what it is, but something big, definitely.”

If you see a wild animal and believe you’re in danger, Redula said you should call 911. Otherwise, you can call (808) 643-DLNR and they will respond.