November 12, 2024
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Caracal, a wild cat, captured in northwest suburb, headed to sanctuary in Wisconsin

By Charles Keeshan - Daily Herald Media Group
An image of a caracal was captured by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee. Another caracal was captured in suburban Hoffman Estates on Oct. 15, 2024.

An image of a caracal was captured by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee. Another caracal was captured in suburban Hoffman Estates on Oct. 15, 2024. (Photo provided by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, by Gary Stolz)

An endangered wild cat spotted wandering through Hoffman Estates in recent days was captured by police Tuesday morning and soon will be on its way to an animal sanctuary in Wisconsin.

The caracal, a medium-sized cat native to parts of Africa and Asia, was caught by police officers responding to a reported sighting about 7:24 a.m. in the 1600 block of Foltz Drive, officials said.

Police said officers arrived in the area and saw the cat near the deck of a home. The caracal tried to hide under the deck, but officers were able to safely and humanely remove the cat and take it into custody, police said.

The home is in the same area of Della Drive and Huntington Boulevard, near the Hilldale Golf Club, where multiple sightings were reported over the weekend. Police said they searched the area after those reports but did not find the caracal.

Representatives of the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat were on their way to the village Tuesday to take custody of the cat and bring it to its facility in Sharon, Wisconsin, about 12 miles northwest of Harvard, where police said it will live a “happy life far away from Hoffman Estates.”

According to the Valley of Kings website, the nonprofit organization in rural southern Wisconsin has 10 acres of farmland where it keeps lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, bears, horses, cows, foxes and other animals.

Police said they are continuing to investigate to determine the cat’s owner and how it came to be in Hoffman Estates. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Hoffman Estates Police Department at 847-781-2800.

According to the San Diego Zoo, caracals measure between 24 and 42 inches long, stand about 18 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh between 13 and 44 pounds. They’re noted for having a sleek, streamlined body; short, reddish-gold coat; and dramatic markings on the face, as well as long, black ear tufts, or tassels, according to the zoo.

https://www.dailyherald.com/20241015/news/caracal-captured-wild-cat-seen-roaming-hoffman-estates-headed-to-sanctuary/

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