Caracal Facts

The caracal, scientifically called caracal caracal, is often referred to as the Persian or African lynx, even though it is not a lynx at all. They stand 18 to 20 inches (46 to 50 centimeters) tall at the shoulders and measure 23 to 42 inches (59 to 106 centimeters) long. Males are larger than females, weighing 25 to 40 pounds (11.5 to 18 kilograms) while females only weigh 21 to 24 pounds (9.5 to 11 kilograms). These animals have a reddish-gold coat, long legs, and long, black ear tufts (or tassels) which provide some unknown function. In fact their name comes from a Turkish word that means “black-eared.” They have slick, streamlined bodies, making them the fastest of the small cats (despite also being the heaviest).

The caracal can be found in northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, as well as western Asia. These animals prefer to inhabit savannahs and tropical grasslands as well as deserts. They will do the majority of their activities at night and rest during the day. They can either be seen traveling alone or in pairs. It is believed that they communicate with one another by twitching their ear tufts.

The diet of a caracal consists of a wide variety of creatures such as dik-diks, monkeys, birds, rodents, antelopes, gazelles and hyraxes. They are known for their incredible jumping ability, being able to leap up to 10 feet (3 meters) into the air. They will use its incredible jump to catch and kill birds in mid-flight. These animals will even leap on a sitting ostrich if the opportunity presents itself. They are excellent climbers and may even stash their food high in the trees to keep it away from scavengers. Since these creatures have such a wide range, it may be the dominant predator in its territory. Lions and wild dogs, however, are creatures that they must keep an eye out for as they can be more powerful and have larger numbers.

Breeding season is the only time a male and female caracal will come together, after which the male leaves the female to raise her offspring (called kittens) alone. A female will give birth in a den that she dug out or in an abandoned aardvark or porcupine burrow. A litter of anywhere from 1 to 6 (3 on average) kittens is born after a gestation period of 78 to 81 days. The kittens will begin eating meat at 1 to 2 months of age, at which point they are able to follow their mother around. Young males and females will leave their mother when they turn 1 year old.

The caracal is not an endangered species overall. They are, however, facing a decline in numbers throughout most of their Asian range. Even though they help farmers by keeping competing herbivore (plant eater) populations in check, they are still considered pests as they will sometimes go after livestock if food is scarce. Hopefully, a solution can be found to help these animals live together peacefully alongside humans. After all, such a unique animal deserves to live and prosper far into the future.

Works Cited

“Caracal” 14 June 2011

“Caracal” 14 June 2011

“Caracal” 14 June 2011

 

“Mammals: Caracal” 14 June 2011