A video that captured a wild cat roaming near a residential area in Fujairah has gone viral and caught the attention of authorities. On Monday, the emirate's environmental authority said it is investigating the situation.
A specialist team from the Fujairah Environment Agency has taken matters into their own hands, investigating whether the animal is still present in the area where it was photographed and spotted by residents.
As per the authority, the spotted animal is called Al Washq in this region — also known as a Caracal — and is a medium-sized cat that can jump 10 ft into the air to catch its prey.
The authority is working on finding out whether a resident owns the wild animal or it is a stray. The authority stated that necessary legal action would be taken against the individual if someone owned the cat.
Community members have been asked to stay away from such animals and to maintain a safe distance if they encounter them. The authority has urged wildlife pioneers to do the same.
To report wild animals or any related incidents, residents have been advised to contact the authority's toll free number: 800368.
Earlier, Sharjah authorities denied rumours of a tiger being spotted roaming in the emirate. The Environment and Protected Areas Authority warned the public against spreading rumours.
The last time a wild animal was confirmed to have gone on the loose in the UAE was in 2021. The sighting caused panic among residents of Dubai’s Springs community.
