A dead caracal will now form part of research after the wild cat was killed by two dogs on Guy Fawkes night.
The animal’s carcass was found by resident Matthew Klink, 51, in The Range in Matroosfontein on Wednesday.
Matthew called authorities, who did not respond, and then contacted the Daily Voice for assistance.
Matthew says his two dogs, one a brakkie and the other a crossbreed pit bull, had attacked “something”’ running in the dark, just after 4am on Wednesday.
“It was Guy Fawkes and my dogs went crazy, chasing after something in the dark,” he says.
“I could only see its eyes and I thought it was maybe a dog or a cat.
“But hours later my neighbour called saying my dog is lying on the field.
“When I had a look, it was a caracal.
“I was so shocked and called a local shelter and no one responded and decided to call the newspaper, because what will happen to this animal now?”
SHOCK: Matthew Klink's family with the wild cat
Laurel Serieys of Urban Caracal, who does research on the preservation of caracals, says the animal will be collected and a study will be conducted to determine where it came from.
“They are found in mountainous areas,” she says.
“We need to find out where it came from.
“It is not legal to keep it as a pet.
“They are found in agricultural areas and Matroosfontein, according to the map, is not too far from Tygerberg Nature Reserve.
“If people see such an animal, do not approach it. Rather call the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.”
Caracals are predominantly found in Africa, the Middle East and central Asia and are known for long legs, long tufted ears and long canine teeth.