Caracal  (Caracal caracal)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (Asian population listed on Appendix I) (3).

The caracal is a slender, graceful cat with a short, dense coat and distinctive, long, black-tufted ears (2) (4). The body colour varies from reddish-brown to tawny-grey, but occasionally entirely black, “melanistic” individuals may occur (5) (6). The chin, throat and underparts are white, with pale red spots or blotches on the belly and the insides of the legs that vary from very faint to distinct in different individuals (4). Distinctive narrow black stripes run from the eye to the nose (2) and down the centre of the forehead, and the eyes are yellow-brown, with the pupil contracting to a circle rather than a slit (6). The caracal produces a range of vocalisations, including miaows, growls, hisses and coughing calls (2).

The caracal has a large range, including much of Africa, and also extending through the Arabian Peninsula and south-west and central Asia, as far as Turkmenistan and central India. Within Africa, the caracal is only absent from the central Sahara and areas of dense forest around equatorial West Africa (1) (4).

Generally found in arid regions, the caracal occupies a range of habitats, including woodland, savanna, scrub and semi-desert (1) (2), although in North Africa, it is also found in the humid forest zone (7). Within these habitats, the caracal prefers areas with good cover from vegetation or rocks (7), and avoids open, sandy desert (2). Frequently found in mountainous areas, the caracal is generally found up to elevations of 2,500 metres, although some individuals have been recorded as high as 3,300 metres in the Ethiopian Highlands (1).

Possessing tremendous speed and agility, the caracal is a formidable predator capable of tackling prey two to three times its size (4). Its long, powerful hind legs enable it to make incredible leaps up to three metres high and catch birds in flight by batting them from the air with its large paws (4) (5). In the past, this ability led to many caracals being trained to hunt game birds for the Indian royalty (4). The caracal is also the fastest cat of its size, and uses its speed to run down prey such as hyraxes, hares and small antelopes (2) (5). This species is superbly adapted for life in arid environments and requires very little water, apparently getting adequate supplies from its food (1).

Caracals are usually solitary, and maintain territories which may vary between 5 and 48 square kilometres in South Africa, and up to 221 square kilometres in the Middle East. Male caracals possess the largest territories, which usually encompass the home ranges of several females. The caracal appears to breed throughout the year, although breeding is known to peak between October and February in South Africa (2). After a gestation period of around 68 to 81 days, the female may give birth to as many as six young, though three are most commonly produced (2) (4). After nine or ten months the young become independent, and may travel large distances to find their own territory. Caracals become sexually mature in their first year, and while wild individuals’ lifespans are not recorded, caracals in captivity have been known to live for up to sixteen years (4).

Despite its widespread distribution and relatively large overall population, in certain parts of its range, the caracal is considered rare and threatened. In North Africa, Arabia, Asia and India, habitat loss is posing a significant threat to the caracal’s survival (1) (4). This is especially true of the Indian population, which having previously suffered heavy losses from fur trappers, is now close to extinction (4). In southern Africa, where the caracal is common, it is heavily persecuted as a pest due to its habit of preying on livestock. Nevertheless, despite large numbers being killed, the population does not appear to be suffering (1) (4).

Although caracal hunting is still legal in some parts of its range, in India, much of sub-Saharan Africa, and many south-west and central Asian countries, it is prohibited (7). Furthermore, the Asian caracal population is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), making all international trade in this species illegal (3).

The presence of the caracal in numerous, large and well-managed protected areas throughout its range is helping to safeguard populations against habitat loss (1). This has been particularly beneficial in India, where areas set aside for tiger conservation are now also forming vital refuges for the caracal’s endangered population. With these measures in place the future of this remarkable cat looks optimistic (8).

To learn more about cat conservation visit:

• IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group:
  www.catsg.org
• International Society for Endangered Cats:
  www.wildcatconservation.org

• Gestation: the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth.
• Territory: area(s) occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.

1. IUCN Red List (January, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Nowak, R.M. (1999) Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
3. CITES (January, 2009)
   http://www.cites.org
4. Sunquist, M. and Sunquist, F. (2002) Wild Cats of the World. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
5. Burnie, D. (2001) Animal. Dorling Kindersley, London.
6. Macdonald, D. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
7. IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group (January, 2009)
   http://www.catsg.org/catsgportal/cat-website/20_cat-website/home/index_en.htm
8. Cat Survival Trust (January, 2009)
   http://www.catsurvivaltrust.org/caracal.htm