Caracal (Caracal caracal)

The caracal is widely distributed across Africa, central and southwest Asia and into India. Within Africa, the caracal is only absent from the central Sahara Desert and the dense forests around equatorial West Africa. The caracal occupies a wide variety of habitats from semi-desert to open savanna and scrubland to moist woodland and thickets to montane forest, but favors semi-arid woodlands and savanna regions with lower rainfall and some cover. Caracals can survive in areas with little water as their the water requirements are met from the body fluids of their prey. The caracal has a characteristic long tuft of hair on the tip of the ear, that exceeds nearly half the length of the ear. This physical feature, and its preference for semi-arid habitats, have earned the caracal the nickname of the desert lynx. The caracal is primarily a solitary animal, although it has been observed in pairs. Caracal hunt by stalking their prey which mainly includes small rodents such as the hyrax, springhare, gerbil, and mouse. The Caracal also preys on birds, and it is even capable of taking small antelope such as mountain reedbuck, springbok, common duiker and steenbok. Currently, man is the caracal’s main predator, although any of the large carnivores in its range, for example the leopard, would also include it in their diet, if given the chance. The caracal populations in Africa are generally doing well; however caracal populations in India and other parts of Asia are deceasing rapidly due to habitat loss.

Caracal (Caracal caracal) – More Information