Dubai Police and rescue teams are patrolling in The Springs and Meadows area. Authorities are looking for an exotic wild animal on the loose that was sighted in the residential community on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National
Dubai Police and rescue teams are patrolling in The Springs and Meadows area. Authorities are looking for an exotic wild animal on the loose that was sighted in the residential community on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National
Police officers and Dubai Municipality officials were in Meadows 9 on Wednesday afternoon. Courtesy: Shuchita Gautam / The National
Police officers and Dubai Municipality officials were in Meadows 9 on Wednesday afternoon. Courtesy: Shuchita Gautam / The National
A police official prepares to launch an aerial drone to scan the Springs district, south of Dubai Marina, following reports of a big cat on the loose. Authorities urged the public to call 999 if they spot a creature that resembles a large black cat. The National
A police official prepares to launch an aerial drone to scan the Springs district, south of Dubai Marina, following reports of a big cat on the loose. Authorities urged the public to call 999 if they spot a creature that resembles a large black cat. The National
Dubai Municipality is looking into claims that an exotic black cat was spotted roaming around a neighbourhood in the emirate on Tuesday. Shuchita Gautam / The National
Dubai Municipality is looking into claims that an exotic black cat was spotted roaming around a neighbourhood in the emirate on Tuesday. Shuchita Gautam / The National
Authorities advised members of the community to exercise caution around what was believed to be a wild cat and to call 999 if they spot it. Pawan Singh / The National
Authorities advised members of the community to exercise caution around what was believed to be a wild cat and to call 999 if they spot it. Pawan Singh / The National
Police cars, a municipality car and an ambulance seen at the entrance of Springs 4. Authorities are looking for a big black cat that was sighted in the community on Tuesday. Shuchita Gautam / The National
Police cars, a municipality car and an ambulance seen at the entrance of Springs 4. Authorities are looking for a big black cat that was sighted in the community on Tuesday. Shuchita Gautam / The National
A police car on patrol. Emaar security says the animal is still on the loose but an extensive search is underway. Pawan Singh/The National
A police car on patrol. Emaar security says the animal is still on the loose but an extensive search is underway. Pawan Singh/The National

UAE

Search continues after suspected big cat sighting in Dubai suburb

Police and municipal officials conducted an extensive search in the Springs area to find and capture a 'wild animal'

Shuchita Gautam
Shuchita Gautam

May 19, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Latest: 'Chiselled jaw, big shoulders and long tail' - Dubai resident tells of encounter with big cat

The search continued on Wednesday for an exotic wild animal on the loose after a suspected sighting in a Dubai suburb a day earlier.

Dubai Police officers used drones to scan the Springs neighbourhood, south of Dubai Marina, after apparent sightings by residents of a 'large black cat'.

Authorities advised members of the community to exercise caution around what was believed to be a wild cat and to call 999 if they spot it.

Officials said they were taking the reports seriously and had deployed police and municipal officials to investigate, but urged the public not to panic.

In tweets posted by Dubai Media Office, police said bringing any kind of wild animal into a public environment was strictly prohibited under the emirate’s laws.

Anyone found guilty can face a jail term of up to six months and severe financial penalties.

A police official prepares to launch an aerial drone to scan the Springs district, south of Dubai Marina, following reports of a big cat on the loose. Authorities urged the public to call 999 if they spot a creature that resembles a large black cat. The National
A police official prepares to launch an aerial drone to scan the Springs district, south of Dubai Marina, following reports of a big cat on the loose. Authorities urged the public to call 999 if they spot a creature that resembles a large black cat. The National

Dubai Police also urged the public to call 901 if they see the animal.

Security staff and municipality vehicles were seen searching the area when The National visited.

“We have been looking for the animal since it was allegedly spotted by a resident this morning,” a security guard said.

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“Dubai Municipality officers also came to the Springs 3. Security guards are in the area and we are trying to find it.”

Animal experts said the animal appeared to be a jaguar or panther after they viewed purported footage of it.

Sara Elliott, founder of the British Veterinary Hospital, said it appeared to be a young black leopard or panther.

“Without specifically seeing the full size of the animal or a close-up, it’s impossible to say which breed it is," she said.

“Leopards are smaller in size – adults only reach about 30 kilograms – so it appears to be in line with that kind of sizing.”

The world's amazing animals - in pictures

Two bull elephants are seen at Ol Donyo lodge in the foothills of the Chyulu Hills, bordering the Chyulu Hills National Park in the east of the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Tusk via AP Images
Two bull elephants are seen at Ol Donyo lodge in the foothills of the Chyulu Hills, bordering the Chyulu Hills National Park in the east of the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Tusk via AP Images
A tiger looks straight into a remote camera installed in a forest in western Thailand. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / EPA
A tiger looks straight into a remote camera installed in a forest in western Thailand. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / EPA
Cheetah mother Afra looks at her four little cubs at their enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, Austria. AP Photo
Cheetah mother Afra looks at her four little cubs at their enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, Austria. AP Photo
An earth bumblebee sits on the blossom of a snowberry and collects nectar for the winter supply with its long sucking trunk at the end of the summer dress in Berlin, Germany. dpa via AP
An earth bumblebee sits on the blossom of a snowberry and collects nectar for the winter supply with its long sucking trunk at the end of the summer dress in Berlin, Germany. dpa via AP
Chipmunks run along a rock ledge at the Horseshoe Park overlook in Rocky Mountain National Park in Grand Lake, Colorado, USA. AP Photo
Chipmunks run along a rock ledge at the Horseshoe Park overlook in Rocky Mountain National Park in Grand Lake, Colorado, USA. AP Photo
Icelandic horses stand in their paddock at a stud farm in Wehrheim near Frankfurt, Germany. AP Photo
Icelandic horses stand in their paddock at a stud farm in Wehrheim near Frankfurt, Germany. AP Photo
A gorilla holds baby in Bwindi National Park Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority / AP Photo
A gorilla holds baby in Bwindi National Park Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority / AP Photo
A Brown spider monkey baby is seen with its mother in the zoo park of Santa Fe in Medellin, Colombia. EPA
A Brown spider monkey baby is seen with its mother in the zoo park of Santa Fe in Medellin, Colombia. EPA
A lion is seen at Bioparque Wakata in Jaime Duque park, in Briceno municipality near Bogota, Colombia. AFP
A lion is seen at Bioparque Wakata in Jaime Duque park, in Briceno municipality near Bogota, Colombia. AFP
Pelicans approach a person on a bench in St James's Park in London, Britain. PA via AP
Pelicans approach a person on a bench in St James's Park in London, Britain. PA via AP
Charolais cattle grazes on a dry meadow at a livestock farm in Nouan, northwestern France. AFP
Charolais cattle grazes on a dry meadow at a livestock farm in Nouan, northwestern France. AFP
A little auk takes flight from its hillside rocky habitat during a summer heat wave on Svalbard archipelago near Longyearbyen, Norway. Getty Images
A little auk takes flight from its hillside rocky habitat during a summer heat wave on Svalbard archipelago near Longyearbyen, Norway. Getty Images
Tigers are seen at Bioparque Wakata in Jaime Duque park, in Briceno municipality near Bogota, Colombia. AFP
Tigers are seen at Bioparque Wakata in Jaime Duque park, in Briceno municipality near Bogota, Colombia. AFP
A hare sits on a harvested field next to straw bales near Herrnleis, in Austria. EPA
A hare sits on a harvested field next to straw bales near Herrnleis, in Austria. EPA
A pair of pileated woodpeckers team up in pursuit of insects on a dead pine tree in Freeport, Maine, USA. AP Photo
A pair of pileated woodpeckers team up in pursuit of insects on a dead pine tree in Freeport, Maine, USA. AP Photo
Keyah, a hoest monkey, cuddles her newly born cub, in her enclosure at the Mulhouse zoo, in Mulhouse, eastern France. AFP
Keyah, a hoest monkey, cuddles her newly born cub, in her enclosure at the Mulhouse zoo, in Mulhouse, eastern France. AFP
Cattle egrets fly in Le Grand-Luce, northwestern France. AFP
Cattle egrets fly in Le Grand-Luce, northwestern France. AFP
Rhino calves feed at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Bokakhat, Assam, India. AP Photo
Rhino calves feed at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Bokakhat, Assam, India. AP Photo
An egret bird at a lake in Al Maadea district of Behera Governorate, Egypt. EPA
An egret bird at a lake in Al Maadea district of Behera Governorate, Egypt. EPA
A record 876 flamingo chicks are hatched at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, UAE, this season. Victor Besa /The National
A record 876 flamingo chicks are hatched at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, UAE, this season. Victor Besa /The National
While you're here
Results:

5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres

Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)

5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m

Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi

6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m

Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali

6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m

Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani

7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m

Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan

7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m

Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

While you're here
World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

The distance learning plan

Spring break will be from March 8 - 19

Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm

Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19

Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning

Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

While you're here
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters
On Women's Day
PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

UAEDubai