Caracal (Caracal Caracal) - Animals - A-Z Animals Five groups that classify all living things Animalia A group of animals within the animal kingdom Chordata A group of animals within a pylum Mammalia A group of animals within a class Carnivora A group of animals within an order Felidae A group of animals within a family Caracal Comprised of the genus followed by the species Caracal Caracal The animal group that the species belongs to Mammal What kind of foods the animal eats Carnivore How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is 65cm - 90cm (2ft - 3ft) The measurement of how heavy the animal is 11kg - 18kg (24lbs - 40lbs) The fastest recorded speed of the animal 80km/h (50mph) How long the animal lives for 12 - 15 years Whether the animal is solitary or sociable Solitary The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct Least Concern The colour of the animal's coat or markings Tan, Brown, Black The protective layer of the animal Fur The specific area where the animal lives Dry woodland and savannah The

 average number of babies born at once 3 Other animals that hunt and eat the animal Human, Hyena, Lions Characteristics unique to the animal Long, black ear tufts and short fur Caracal Location Map of Africa Caracal The caracal is also commonly known as the Persian Lynx or African Lynx despite the fact that the caracal is not a lynx at all.

The caracal is thought to be most closely related to the African golden cat and the serval. The caracals name is believed to come from the Turkish word Karakulak, which means black ears. The caracal typically has 20 different muscles in the caracals ears which enables the caracal to detect prey. The caracal is a medium sized cat however, with the caracal , its size appears to make little difference on what the caracal hunts. Scientists have found dead ostriches with caracal tooth-marks in them, meaning that the caracal is fast enough to outrun and catch an ostrich , and strong enough to overpower it and kill it. The caracal has also been known to leap up into the air to successfully catch and kill flying birds . The caracals are excellent acrobats and can land safely. The caracal is normally dark red, grey, or golden sand in colour and as the caracals name suggests, the caracals ears are black, with tufts. Young caracals bear reddish spots on the underbelly that disappear when they grow up.

The caracal mainly hunts rodents, birds (including ostriches), antelopes , gazelles, and rabbits . The caracal tends to avoid eating very stiff fur by neatly shearing it off with their claws, but they are tolerant of feathers. The caracal can live up to around 12 years in the wild, with some adult caracals living to 17 years old in captivity. The caracal is found in Africa and Southwest Asia , where the caracal prefers grasslands (savannas and tropical grasslands), and deserts . Share This Article Caracal Facts | Big Cat Rescue Big Cat Rescue Genus: Felinae (Caracal) Species: caracal Misc: The name Caracal is derived from a Turkish word “karakulak” meaning “black ear.” The Caracal was once trained for bird hunting in Iran and India. They were put into arenas containing a flock of pigeons, and wagers were made as to how many the cat would take down.

This is the origination of the expression “to put a cat amongst the pigeons.” The Caracal is capable of leaping into the air and knocking down 10-12 birds at one time! Size and Appearance: Often referred to as the desert lynx, the Caracal does not actually possess the same physical attributes of members of the lynx family, such as the characteristic ruff of hair around the face. Instead, it has a short, dense coat, usually a uniform tawny-brown to brick-red, and black (melanistic) individuals have been recorded. As the name implies, the backs of the ears are black and topped with long black tufts about 1.75 inches long. This tuft is the characteristic that Caracals do share with the members of the lynx family. It is the largest member of Africa’s small cats, and it’s most formidable. Males can weigh as much as 40 pounds, and females as much as 35. They stand between 16-20 inches at the shoulder, and are 35-39 inches long.

Habitat: Caracals live in the drier savannah and woodland regions of sub-Saharan Africa, and prefer the more scrubby, arid habitats. They will also inhabit evergreen and montane forests, but are not found in tropical rain forests. Distribution: Central Africa, South Africa, west Africa, southwest Asia, Middle East. Reproduction and Offspring: After a gestation of approximately 78-81 days, females produce a litter of 1-4 kittens, with 2 being the average. They begin to open their eyes on their first day of life, but it takes 6-10 days for them to completely open. They are weaned at 10 weeks, and will remain with their mothers for up to a year. They attain sexual maturity between 12-16 months. In captivity, Caracals have lived up to 19 years. Social System and Communication: Caracals are solitary animals, and social interactions are limited to periods of mating, except for mothers with kittens.

Hear our purrs, hisses, snarls, calls, and growl sounds HERE Hunting and Diet: Caracals prey on a variety of mammals, with the most common being rodents, hares, hyraxes, and small antelope. Unlike the other small African cats, Caracals will not hesitate to kill prey larger then themselves, such as adult springbok or young Kudu. Caracals have also been reported on occasion (although this is an exception rather than a rule) to store their kills in trees, as do the leopards. These cats are mostly nocturnal, but have been spotted in daylight in protected areas. Principal Threats: Caracals are mostly killed for livestock predation, although this only occurs in a few of its ranges it still adds up to large numbers of deaths (2219 animals in one area alone). In other areas of its range, it fights hunting for its skin and for its meat, which some bush tribes consider to be a luxury. Status: CITES: Appendix II. IUCN: Not listed. Felid TAG 2003 recommendation: Caracals (Caracal caracal).

Caracals are managed with the assistance of an international studbook. Most recent importations are from Namibia. Ultimately, a pure subspecies can be maintained in North America. Although the TAG originally targeted the Asian race from Turkmenistan for the RCP, it became apparent that only highly inbred hybrids were present in North America. More likely, no aspect of this race is in this region, or likely to become available. The population target for the PMP is 80 individuals. How rare is this cat ? The International Species Information Service lists 169 in zoos worldwide, with 52 being in the U.S. Information reprinted With Permission from the IUCN Wild Cats Book Meet the Caracals of Big Cat Rescue: Caracals of BCR Caracal videos, photos and facts - Caracal caracal | ARKive Top Caracal biology Possessing tremendous speed and agility, the caracal is a formidable predator capable of tackling prey two to three times its size (5) . 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 (5) (6) .

In the past, this ability led to many caracals being trained to hunt game birds for the Persian and Indian royalty (5) . 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) (6) . 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 1,116 square kilometres in the Middle East (1) (3) . In the arid regions of Africa, the average home range size is around 316.4 square kilometers (1) (3) . 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) (5) . 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 (5) . Top Caracal range The caracal has a large range, including much of Africa, and also extending through the Arabian and Anatolian Peninsula, and southwestern and central Asia, as far as Kazakhstan and central India (1) (3) (5) . Within Africa, the caracal is only absent from the central Sahara and areas of dense forest around equatorial West Africa (1) (5) . Top Caracal status The caracal is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1) . The African population is listed on Appendix II of CITES, while the Asian population is listed on Appendix I of CITES (4) .

Top Caracal threats Despite its widespread distribution and relatively large overall population, in certain parts of its range, the caracal is considered rare and threatened. As caracals are capable of predation on small livestock, it is often considered as a problem animal throughout its range (1) (3) . In North Africa, Arabia, central Asia, Iran and India, habitat loss is posing a significant threat to the caracal’s survival (1) (5) . 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) (5) . Top Caracal conservation Although caracal hunting is still legal in some parts of its range, in much of sub-Saharan Africa, and many southwest and central Asian countries, it is prohibited (1) (3) (8) . Furthermore, the Asian caracal population is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), making all international trade of this species illegal (4) .

Very little is known from the presence and ecology of the caracal in much of its range in North Africa and Asia. However, in large and well managed protected areas throughout its range, caracals are safeguarded against threats like habitat loss and lack of natural prey. The global population trend of caracal seems to be unknown (1) (3) . ADW: Caracal caracal: INFORMATION References Geographic Range Caracal caracal is distributed over much of Africa, Central Asia and southwestern Asia. North African populations are disappearing, but caracals are still abundant in other African regions. Their range limits are the Saharan desert and the equatorial forest belt of Western and Central Africa. In South Africa and Namibia, C. caracal is so numerous that it is exterminated as a nuisance animal. Asiatic populations are less dense than those of Africa and Asiatic populations are of greater concern. The historical range of caracals mirror that of cheetahs , and both coincide with the distribution of several small desert gazelles. There is little to no distribution overlap with their allies, African golden cats . However, their other allies, servals , share a notable portion of their range with caracals.

Wildcats, Felis sylvestris, specifically the subspecies Felis silvestris lybica (African wildcats) and Felis silvestris ornata (Asian wildcats), share much of their range with caracals. ( Breitenmoser, et al., 2008 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Biogeographic Regions native Habitat Caracals occupy diverse habitats. Caracals are typically found in woodlands, thickets, and scrub forest, plains and rocky hills are also common habitats. They prefer edge habitats, especially forest/grassland transitions. They are found at elevations over 3000 meters in the mountains of Ethiopia. An arid climate with minimal foliage cover is preferred. Compared to servals , caracals can tolerate much drier conditions. However, they seldom inhabit deserts or tropical environments. In Asia, caracals are sometimes found in forests, which is uncommon in African populations.

( Breitenmoser, et al., 2008 ; Kingdon, 2004 ; "Safari Club International", 2009 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Habitat Regions ft Physical Description Caracals have brown to red coats, with color varying among individuals. Females are typically lighter than males. Their undersides are white and, similar to African golden cats , are adorned with many small spots. The face has black markings on the whisker pads, around the eyes, above the eyes and faintly down the center of the head and nose. The trademark features of caracals are their elongated and black-tufted ears. The legs are relatively long and the hind legs are disproportionately tall and well muscled. The tail is short. Eye color varies from golden or copper to green or grey. Melanistic individuals have been reported, but are extremely rare. Juveniles differ in their shorter ear tufts and blue tinted eyes. Subspecies of C. caracal may not be distinguishable by phenotype. Females are smaller and at or below 13 kg, while males can be up to 20 kg.

It is possible for a large female to weigh more than a small male. Although the tail is short, it still makes up a significant portion of the total body length. Tail length ranges from 18 cm (7 in) to 34 cm (13 in). Head and body length is measured from the nose to the base of the tail and ranges from 62 to 91 cm (about 24 in to 36 in). Even the smallest adult caracal is larger than most domestic cats. ( Kingdon, 2004 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Other Physical Features 31.50 to 49.21 in Reproduction Before mating begins, chemical signals in the female’s urine attract and notify the male of her readiness to mate. A distinctive “cough-like” mating call has also been reported as a method of attraction. There have been several different forms of mating systems observed for caracals. When a female is being courted by multiple males, the group may fight to mate with her or she may choose her mates, preferring older and larger males to younger and smaller males.

Mating may occur with multiple individuals over the course of about a week. When a female chooses a mate, the pair may move together for up to four days, during which copulation occurs multiple times. Female caracals assume a lordotic position and copulation lasts for less than five minutes on average. Females almost always copulate with more than one male. Infanticide by males has been observed. This may be to induce ovulation in a female undergoing lactational amenorrhea. ( Bernard and Stuart, 1987 ; Kingdon, 2004 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Mating System polygynandrous (promiscuous) Although both sexes are sexually mature at 7 to 10 months, the earliest successful copulation will occur around 14 to 15 months of age. Some biologists believe that sexual maturity is indicated by a body mass of 7 to 9 kg. Females exhibit estrous behaviors for 3 to 6 days but the cycle actually lasts twice as long. A female may go into estrus at any time during the year. One hypothesis to explain the breeding habits of C.

caracal is the “use” of an opportunistic strategy. This strategy is controlled by the female’s nutritional status. When a female is experiencing pinnacle nutrition (which will vary by range), she will go into estrus. This explains peak birth timing between October and February in some regions. A female cannot have more than one litter per year because of the parental investment involved and the lack of post partum estrus. Gestation lasts between 68 and 81 days, and the female will give birth to 1 to as many as 6 kittens. In the wild, generally no more than 3 kits are born, while in captivity, the number is more likely to be higher, rarely as many as 6. ( Bernard and Stuart, 1987 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Key Reproductive Features Caracals breed once yearly. Breeding season Caracals are capable of mating at any time of the year, but often do between August and December so that young are born in the summer.

Range number of offspring Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 7 to 10 months Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 7 to 10 months Parental investment in caracals plays a large role in greater reproductive behavior. The time a mother spends with her kits (and the combined lack of post partum estrus) restricts females to one litter per year. Once the young are conceived, males play no role in their direct or indirect care. Females invest a great deal of time and energy into their young. A tree cavity, cave, or abandoned burrow is often chosen for parturition and the first four weeks of postnatal development. After the first month, a mother may move her young continuously. Around this time, kittens begin to play and eat meat. Nursing continues until the kittens are around 15 weeks of age, but true independence does not take place for another 5 to 6 months. ( Bernard and Stuart, 1987 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Parental Investment Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research Behavior Caracals are solitary, except for the duration of mating and rearing of kits.

Both sexes are territorial and maintain an active home range. Although primarily nocturnal, caracals can be seen during the day, especially in undisturbed regions. Though they are terrestrial, they are also skilled climbers with tenacious attitudes. A single caracal has been known to chase off predators up to twice its size. Hunting time is usually determined by the activity of prey, but C. caracal is most often seen hunting at night. ( Grzimek, et al., 2003 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Key Behaviors 4 to 316 km^2 Home Range Caracals actively maintain a rather large home range for their relatively small size. Climate, region, and sex all influence the size of an individual’s home range. The home range of a male is typically twice that of a female. Home range size is also influenced by the availability of water. In regions with an arid climate, a home range of much greater area is maintained. In parts of Africa the territory of a male ranges from 31 to 65 km sq. Females in the same region will maintain a range of 4 to 31 km sq.

In parts of Asia, males commonly maintain home ranges of 200 km sq. to over 300 km sq. There is a sex difference in the exclusivity of defended territories. A male’s territory may overlap with the ranges of several other males, while a female defends her entire territory for her individual use. ( Breitenmoser, et al., 2008 ; Grzimek, et al., 2003 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Communication and Perception A thorough study of communication in caracals has never been carried out. Most of information comes from individuals kept in captivity. Like other felids, caracals have well-developed senses of hearing and sight. Although servals are noted for their incredible hearing, caracals can also detect small prey by sound alone. Once prey are detected, keen eyesight is used to narrow in on the target. The exact function of the ear tufts on C. caracal is unknown. However, some zookeepers speculate that they may be used in intraspecies communication. If this were the case, this social communication would be limited by the solitary nature of the animal.

In captivity, caracals are known for their grating vocalizations. These cats communicate with a series of growls, spits, hisses and meows. Tactile communication, such as sparring and huddling, has been observed during mating periods. A potential mate is attracted by olfactory cues. Hormonal changes in the female result in a change in urine composition. When the female is ready to mate, she deposits her scent in various locations to attract males. Males may then perceive the scent through the vomeronasal organ. ( Winger, 2005 ) Communication Channels chemical Food Habits Similar to all other species in the family Felidae , caracals are strict carnivores. The bulk of the diet is made up of hyraxes , hares , rodents , antelopes , small monkeys , and birds. Doves and partridge in particular, are seasonally important. Mountain reedbucks , Dorcas gazelles , Kori bustards , mountain gazelles , gerenuks and Sharpe’s grysboks are specific examples of what caracals might hunt. Caracals consume some reptiles, although this is not a common component of the diet.

The staple components of the diet vary with geography. For example, an individual in Africa might consume larger animals such as ungulates, while an Asian cat might consume only small vertebrates, such as rodents. Livestock are sometimes hunted as well. Although caracals are known for their spectacular, bird-snaring leaps, mammals make up over half of their diet in all ranges. Unique among cats of their size, caracals can take down prey two to three times their mass. Small prey such as hyraxes are killed with a bite to the nape, while large prey, such as gazelles are killed with a suffocating throat bite. Prey are usually stalked to within a few long bounds, then captured when the caracal leaps using its disproportionately long and muscular back legs. Perhaps a result of its opportunistic appetite, caracals may engage in surplus killing. Unlike leopards , caracals rarely hoist their kill into trees. In undisturbed environments, caracals will instead scrape earth over an unfinished carcass and continually return to feed until it is gone.

( Grzimek, et al., 2003 ; Kingdon, 2004 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Primary Diet hyenas ( Hyaenidae ) Ecosystem Roles Though caracals are both predators and prey, their known predators (e.g., lions and hyenas) do not regularly hunt them. The greatest impact caracals have on ecosystems is as population control for prey species. Opportunistic feeders such as caracals consume whatever is most available and whatever requires the least amount of energy to catch and kill. This method of hunting plays a role in preventing prey species from becoming under or over-populated. In some regions, caracals are one of only a few species capable of killing certain types of prey. ( Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Economic Importance for Humans: Positive In India and Persia, caracals were once trained to catch game birds and deer. By doing so, caracals provided both food and entertainment. Bushmeat and pelts in western and central Africa provide food and minor profit for locals. Luckily for caracals, their plain pelt is in very low demand.

( Grzimek, et al., 2003 ) Positive Impacts body parts are source of valuable material Economic Importance for Humans: Negative Predation on small livestock has resulted in extermination of thousands of caracals annually. This is especially the case in South Africa and Namibia, where predator control programs have been put in place. Even with various programs in place, caracals quickly recolonize farmland. ( Grzimek, et al., 2003 ; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 ) Conservation Status Primary concern for caracals is habitat loss in northern, central, and western Africa and Asia. The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) lists Asian populations as Appendix I and all others as Appendix II. This means Asian populations may not be traded for any commercial reason, but trade involving scientific research is allowed. Appendix II dictates that trade of these animals will be controlled by authorization of permits in cases that will not detrimentally harm the species.

( "The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora", 2009 ; Breitenmoser, et al., 2008 ) breeding takes place throughout the year References Safari Club International. 2009. "Safari Club International" (On-line). Caracal - Species Detail. Accessed March 16, 2009 at . 2009. "The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora" (On-line). The CITES Appendices. Accessed March 22, 2009 at . Bernard, R., C. Stuart. 1987. Reproduction of the caracal Felis caracal from the Cape Province of South Africa. South African Journal of Zoology, 22/3: 177-182. Breitenmoser, C., P. Henschel, E. Sogbohossou. 2008. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008" (On-line). Caracal caracal.

Accessed March 16, 2009 at . Grzimek, B., N. Schlager, D. Olendorf. 2003. Caracal caracal. Pp. 387-388 in M Hutchins, D Klieman, V Geist, M McDade, eds. Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Vol. 14, Mammals III, 2nd Edition. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. Kingdon, J. 2004. The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals. Italy: Princeton University Press. Sunquist, M., F. Sunquist. 2002. Wild Cats of the World. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. Winger, J. 2005. "Smithsonian Zoogoer" (On-line). At the Zoo: Caracals, A Black-Eared Mystery. Accessed April 16, 2009 at . de Magalhaes, J., A. Budovsky, G. Lehmann, J. Costa, Y. Li, V. Fraifeld, G. Church.

2009. "AnAge entry for Caracal caracal" (On-line). The Human Ageing Genomic Resources: online databases and tools for biogerontologists. Accessed March 20, 2009 at . Caracal | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants Species: caracal ABOUT Pretty kitty. With their sleek, streamlined body, short, reddish gold coat, and dramatic markings on the face, caracals are among the most beautiful of wild cats. Also called the desert lynx, medium-sized caracals have no spots or stripes and have longer legs and a slimmer body than a true lynx. Caracals are the heaviest and also the fastest of the small cats and are the largest of the small cats in Africa. Who ARE you? The caracal’s place in the cat family tree is somewhat muddled, but it is believed that it is closely related to the serval and golden cat. The caracal is found in habitats that are different from its feline cousins.

Servals and caracals are similar in size, but servals hunt in wetter habitats, whereas caracals stick to the drier areas of Africa and the Middle East. The most noticeable feature of a caracal is its long, black ear tufts, or tassels. There are many theories about the function of the ear tufts. The tufts may help keep flies out of the cat’s face or help to camouflage the caracal in tall grass by breaking up the outline of the cat’s head. However, the most widely accepted theory is that the cat twitches its ear tufts as a way to communicate with fellow caracals. HABITAT AND DIET The caracal ranges across Africa and the Middle East to India. It is keenly adapted to the potentially harsh environments of savanna, semi-desert, dry woodland, arid hilly steppe, and dry mountains. Agile hunters. All cats must eat meat to survive. Caracals hunt at night but are not picky and eat any animal they can catch, sprinting after mongooses, rodents, hyraxes, dik diks, and monkeys.

Occasionally, caracals kill mammals as large as an impala or young kudu and may attack domestic livestock. These agile cats have amazing jumping abilities, leaping up to 10 feet (3 meters) to swat a flying bird. They can even leap on a sitting ostrich! Caracals keep their claws sharp to help them capture their prey. They sometimes climb trees and even stash their catch in the branches for a later meal. Because of their wide range, caracals may be the top predators in their area or there may be a larger carnivore (such as a lion or painted dog) to look out for. Caracals at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are fed a fortified meat-based commercial carnivore diet as their staple food, along with cat kibble. A fish and mouse are offered once a week as a special treat. FAMILY LIFE Cat communication. Like the rest of the small cats, caracals may purr when content and make a variety of other mews, growls, and hisses to express their mood. Caracals are usually silent, but can cry out like a leopard, if needed.

Like the rest of the small cats, caracals may purr when content and make a variety of other mews, growls, and hisses to express their mood. In addition, caracals make a “wah-wah” sound when they seem to be uneasy. Scent is also used to get a message across, and caracals have scent glands between their toes and on their face. The cats can sharpen their claws on a tree and mark their territory visually and with scent at the same time! The scent may serve to keep other caracals away or to indicate a willingness to breed. Growing up caracal. Caracals are generally solitary, patrolling and aggressively defending their territory. Most caracals come together only to mate, and the male does not stay to help raise the young. Caracal mothers make a den in an abandoned aardvark or porcupine burrow or a previously used den. The kittens are born tiny and helpless, with their eyes sealed shut. The eyes open in about 10 days, and the kittens start eating meat when they are 1 to 2 months old.

By this time, they are able to scamper about and follow their mother to learn hunting skills and how to fend for themselves. Their permanent teeth appear at four to five months of age, but they do not strike out on their own until they are about one year old. AT THE ZOO The San Diego Zoo’s first caracal pair arrived in 1963. We’ve had several more since then, including 19 births. Today, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has a caracal named Kasten who is trained as an animal ambassador, meeting guests up close and making television appearances. With the assistance of his trainers, Kasten has been interacting with and educating the public since 2002; he is known by many for his incredible acrobatics, and seems to enjoy demonstrating his predatory instinct and amazing jumping abilities by stalking and then leaping to catch a stuffed toy on a lure as if it were live prey. CONSERVATION Despite their secretive habits, caracals have been a part of humans’ lives for hundreds of years. In India and Persia (now known as Iran), they were used to hunt birds for sport.

Owners would have contests to see how many pigeons their cat could bring down in a single try, often reaching 10 or more! The saying “to put a cat among the pigeons” comes from this ancient practice. In some areas these days, however, caracals are considered pests. During lean times, caracals hunt livestock as an easy source of food. For this reason, many ranchers shoot a caracal if they see one. However, caracals also keep down the numbers of small herbivores that compete with the livestock for grazing areas. Unfortunately, most of the Asian caracal populations are dropping rapidly, and new ways need to be found for humans to live with this stealthy cat. You can help us bring small cats back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe. LIFE SPAN Caracal - Animal Facts and Information Caracal Posted by BioExpedition | Jun 11, 2013 | Biodiversity , Felines | Caracal Introduction According to the IUCN, the caracal is “of least concern”.

They’re a widespread, thriving species – so much so that they’re considered pests or “problem animals” in Namibia and South Africa.Their most common name is developed from a Turkish phrase that translates as “black ear”, but they have others – including the Afrikaans ‘rooikat’, meaning ‘red cat’, and various names describing it as an African or desert lynx, despite its lack of relation to the lynx as a species. They are small cats rather than big cats, as can be seen in the fact that they are capable of purring while drinking water. They’re one the largest of all the small cats, though – as well as the fastest by a considerable margin. Description Caracals have friendly, familiar faces, highly reminiscent of domesticated cats. Their most distinctive feature by far is of course their ears – which have long, prominent tufts, giving them a perpetually curious look. Their fur is usually of a reddish colour, and unmarked – though some sport a few spots on the insides of their forelegs. The pads of their paws feature numerous stiff hairs, which are thought to enable them to move through soft sand more quickly than they otherwise might.

Caracal – Caracal caracal Distribution The caracal is an extremely versatile species. They’re found in Algeria, Angola, Congo, India, Iran, Karakum, Morocco, Nigeria, Nubia, Pakistan, Palestine, Punjab, Syria, Transvaal, Tunisia and South Africa – amongst other places – and they can inhabit habitats of all sorts, from moist, dense woodlands to semi-desert. They’re thought to especially favour savannah regions with lower rainfall and some cover, however, and as such their Namibian population is continuing to expand in a time when many feline populations are in decline. Behaviour The caracal is a highly solitary creature that maintains a large and well-defended territory. They’ll mark their territory with scent marking, faeces, urine spraying and simple patrolling; they usually live alone, but they do from time to time exist in pairs, both breeding pairs and same-sex pairs of two caracal who have grown used to living together.

They produce the usual range of sounds for small cats, and will growl, hiss, mew, and call – but they can also produce a ‘barking’ noise, which is far more unusual and generally used as a warning to any other caracal or predator nearby in times of danger. They have very little need for drinking water, and can exist perfectly well from nothing but the bodily fluids of their prey for extended periods of time. This of course makes them particularly well-adapted to desert life, and as such they hold territories in several semi-desert regions of Africa and Asia. Sadly, they have a habit of attacking domesticated cats and livestock animals in some parts of the world – meaning that they have had frequent run-ins with local populations in places like Iran and South Africa, and in some regions it is legal to kill them on sight if you so wish. Feeding Like most small cats, caracal are stalkers. They approach swiftly and silently till they’re within a sixteen foot range, whereupon they sprint and then leap – and their springs are fast, with a very long reach.

They’re known primarily for their astonishing ability to capture birds by leaping nearly seven feet into the air from a standing start – something that no all cats is capable of. They live mainly on very small animals, such as gerbils, mice, birds and hares. They are capable of killing larger prey, however – they occasionally tackle antelope of gazelle. Like almost all cats, they kill most of their prey with a bite to the neck – though some larger animals require some additional raking with the claws to fully subdue them. Caracal Physical Characteristics They’re remarkably picky eaters, too – they discard most of the internal organs of any prey, and won’t eat any hair. They shear meat neatly from skin, and remove all the feathers from any bird they catch. It is possible to tame them, as is the case with many small cats. In some parts of India and Iran, they’re used to assist human hunters in their work – and their incredibly developed ears render them easily the equal to this task! They hunt in part by listening out for their prey, a skill which is of benefit to the hunters they accompany. Reproduction Caracal do not have a formal ‘mating season’, and tend to mate year-round.

When in heat, females copulate with several males – the highest-status first and the lowest-status last – and the males quite often fight aggressively for the privilege of being the first (or occasionally only) to mate with any given female. Litters contain something between one and six kittens, who are incapable of leaving the birthing den until they reach about one month. After ten weeks they are fully weaned, but they usually stay with their mother for the majority of their first year. Caracal - Animal Facts Animal Profiles Caracal Mammal. Caracals are also called desert lynx because of their resemblance to lynx. They can survive for long periods without water, obtaining moisture from their prey. “Karakal” is Turkish for “black ears.” Their ears are larger than most other cats, and they are topped by long, black tufts of fur. Caracals are agile tree-climbers, and will sometimes store the remains of their prey in the forks of trees or bushes. They are known for their bird-catching abilities. Their strong legs and big paws enable them to jump up and knock birds out of the air. Scientific Name Lifespan Felis caracal 18 years Diet Carnivore.

Rodents, birds, small antelope, sometimes poultry. Predators and Threats Humans. Habitat Woodlands, savannahs, scrub forests, rugged terrain in mountainous regions; Africa, Arabian and Sinai peninsula, southwestern Asia, India. Interview with Charlie Redmon and Marion Holmes Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell? CR: No, but they will spray occasionally. MH: The do tend to get a slight smell but we had him castrated at nine months to reduce the smell and also to curb the strong feelings of wanderlust. What is their average life span? CR: I believe about 15 years with a proper diet and care. MH: About 15 years in captivity. Do they enjoy interaction? CR: Only on their terms, if she wants to be touched she'll come to you, usually she wants to be in the room, but not touched. MH: Yes - they thrive on it! What is their general personality, disposition, and attitude? CR: In a way typical cat attitude, mine loves high perches and wants to know everything that's going on, doesn't want to be messed with unless it's to play.

MH: Loving personality but can get really grouchy when he doesn't get what he wants - especially around feeding time. Are they sweet and petable, or mischievous and playful? CR: Love to play and chase toys. I wouldn't call her petable or sweet, I would say she has fit's of sweetness that generally only last for a minute or two when she'll bump her head against you and want a little affection. Because of these fit's of affection being so short spaced out, it makes it that much more special when she comes up to say I love you in her own little way. She wants to play more than there are hours in the day, chasing balls, toys, or the two domestic cats that I have that she will absolutely run into the ground wanting to play with. MH: All of the above. At night if came home late he would jump on the bed and start kneading the blankets on top of you and purr away - like a diesel engine going off next to you. How destructive are they for an average household? CR: I'm convinced that a human could walk into a room and declare it totally empty and Princess could go into it and show you a half dozen thing's to play with.

They will chew on things, such as wooden window frames or ledges. Forget having anything sitting out that's even remotely breakable unless you want it broken. When they cut teeth, they will chew on anything they can fit in their mouth. Think of your three favorite things you have in your house (figurines/pictures/etc), three favorite articles of fabric (clothes/blankets) and think of your three favorite things in your house that don't fit into there. Now take one thing out of each category and get ready to throw it away because it is going to be broken or chewed up. There is no place in the house that will be safe from her, it's not possible to put anything high enough, they do get big enough and are athletic enough to jump up and touch the ceiling. One of these days I halfway expect to come home and find a ceiling fan laying in the middle of the floor. Locking stuff up in a cabinet will only get her attention to go inside it that much more whenever you do happen to open the door on it. MH: Very Destructive - will shred furniture if not given enough attention.

Also, almost impossible to house train, so he constantly marked territory in the house even though he was castrated. Do they climb or tear up furniture? CR: YES!!! They will climb anything climbable and some stuff that isn't. Plan on your furniture at some time or another being used as a chew toy. If you've heard of the idea of throwing a small pillow at them to break them from destroying furniture, this doesn't work with exotic cats like it does domestics. All it'll do, is probably get her attention to chasing and playing with the pillow for the moment. Arms on furniture will be chewed on at some time or another, and if you have chairs with wooden legs on them, expect to have those chewed on too. MH: Yes - when he felt neglected. Are there any problems associated with their claws? CR: Only up to about sixteen weeks old, at which time they will be about the size of a full grown domestic cat and their claws will be about twice the size you would expect. This is the age that's generally recommended for declawing which is a must for cats like this that are intended as pets.

Once full grown if they were to have claws still, there wouldn't be anything such as a simple scratch needing a Band-Aid, it would be a trip to an emergency room for stitches. MH: Yes, but only when playing or in regards to the above. How messy are their droppings? CR: Nothing really special, just very big! MH: Can be quite pungent! Can they be litter box trained? CR: Yes, although they may not be willing to go look for one which means litter boxes in most rooms of the house somewhere. MH: Not really. Possibly, with lots of consistent work. Can they be trained? CR: About like a typical cat I'd say, may be trainable some, but with a lot of work. MH: To a limited degree. How are they with other pets, larger and smaller? CR: This will probably depend more on each individual caracal. Mine is great with the domestics as far as her attitude goes, but she does get a bit rough sometimes just playing with them. Forget about keeping birds in the house at all, that's not going to work at all. I don't imagine small house dogs would be a good idea either. MH: Fine.

Sly grew up with the dogs (one took over the role of the mother) and the cats (he grew up with a three month old kitten). He was devastated when the kitten died from complications from kidney stones. I didn't realize how the the bond was. We did get another cat of about a year when the other cat died and sly was fine with him. He wanted to play the usual games and the poor new cat didn't know what hit him! But they eventually also became buddies. What size cage do they need? CR: A twelve hundred square foot house works nicely! :) To build an outside pen for one I don't know, they need to be able to run so it would need a fairly large pen. MH: I did not keep him in a cage as I personally fell that is not the right thing to keep a wild animal caged. But, if kept in a cage it would have to be at least ten meters square - they require a lot of space. What do you feed them? CR: Chicken is the main diet food, along with exotic cat food and rodents, plus vitamin and calcium supplements. What vaccinations/vet care do they require? CR: Very big thing to keep in mind here.

They have to have totally killed vaccines which most veterinarian's don't keep in stock which means you would need to let your vet know what you are planning on getting way ahead of time so they can expect it and be ready for it. They also will hide being sick from you, you have to learn to recognize changes in them and be able to figure out if they are just having a lazy day for instance, or if they are being a bit slower because they are actually quite sick. They don't show symptoms like domestic animals do, and once they start showing obvious signs of being sick, it probably means you should have had them at the vet's office a week ago. They can crash overnight, and by crash, I mean that they may be up walking around one evening (hiding being sick) jumping up onto counters and getting in the way, and the next morning finally give in to whatever is bothering them and be so bad off that they can't even stand up. This isn't something I'm exaggerating or making up either, I have personally seen cat's crash this hard this fast. You also have to have a vet that is willing to work on an animal that may very well be like a totally wild animal towards them.

At what age would it be best to get one? CR: It is a MUST that you get a kitten when it's time for it to be weaned, or as close to it as possible if you plan on having one for a pet. You should be ready to expect to bring home an animal that may seem wild until she get's used to her new owner and new home. You can't get one from someone else that they've raised and bring it home to keep in the house as a pet. This also means that once you get one, you are making a decision to take care of it for it's lifetime. MH: Around the age of two weeks, just after the eyes have opened. Otherwise, it is impossible to tame them. At this stage they need to be bottle fed every two hours. At the age of three to four weeks they need solid foods introduced. They still need to drink milk for as long as possible - as they are prone to rickettes. Other Consideration for owners of Caracals? CR: First big consideration, kids. If you either have children, or plan on having them, then this is not an animal you want in the house.

They are still wild, they will challenge you at times to see who's boss, and this isn't something you want around kids, that's most certainly going to lead to problems. MH: Think long and hard before obtaining a caracal. What kind of person should own these animals? CR: Probably a very small percentage of people should actually keep these animals. They will push your patience probably most every day. Aside from being expensive, they aren't something to just go out and buy. Don't be surprised if you have to put down a one thousand dollar deposit, then have to wait six months on a waiting list before actually getting your kitten. MH: Patient, tireless, love cats, lots of time.

Question: A caracal is what type of animal?
Answer: Cat