The caracal (Caracal caracal)—also known as the desert lynx and Persian lynx—is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid regions of Pakistan and northwestern India, is characterized by its robust build, long legs, short face, long tufted ears, relatively short tail, and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while its underside is lighter with small reddish markings. Adults reach 16-24 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 18 and 55 pounds.

The caracal, a highly secretive and nocturnal cat, leads a solitary life. This territorial carnivore mainly preys on birds, rodents, and other small mammals. With incredible leaping ability, the caracal can jump over 10 feet high to catch birds in midair. When hunting, it stealthily stalks prey within 16 feet before sprinting and killing with a lethal bite to the throat or neck. Reaching sexual maturity at one year old, both sexes breed year-round. After a gestation of two to three months, females give birth to litters of one to six kittens. Around nine to ten months old, juveniles leave their mothers, though some females remain. In captivity, caracals live for approximately 16 years on average.

The name ‘caracal’ was proposed by Georges Buffon in 1761, who referred to the Turkish name ‘Karrah-kulak’ or ‘Kara-coulac’, both meaning ‘black ear’. The ‘lynx’ mentioned by the ancient Greeks and Romans was likely the caracal, and the name ‘lynx’ is sometimes still used for this animal. However, the present-day lynx is a separate genus entirely.

The caracal has a wide distribution across Africa south of the Sahara, though it is rare in North Africa. Its Asian range stretches from the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and western India. This cat inhabits forests, savannas, marshes, semideserts, and scrub forests, preferring dry habitats with low rainfall but good cover. In mountainous areas like the Ethiopian Highlands, it lives at elevations up to 3,000 meters.

Hunting

While caracal hunting in Africa is typically not the primary focus of a hunting safari, African hunting packages often include these elusive, commanding, and majestic cats.

Caracal hunting in Africa is often done at night, as it is legal to do so. Hunters typically use a spotlight over bait to attract the animal. A blind is set up, and then the waiting game begins for the caracal to make an appearance. Keep in mind that caracals have excellent hearing, so it’s crucial to remain very quiet. One downside to this method is that caracals prefer to catch their own prey and may not be easily lured to the area. Using predator calls can also help in coaxing the caracal to reveal itself. Alternatively, hunting caracal with hounds is allowed in some provinces and proves to be an extremely exciting hunt. Experienced professional hunters can provide a memorable caracal hunt across diverse territories, for an exceptional experience pursuing these graceful predators and an unforgettable keepsake to honor the creature and adventure.

The caracal is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, as it is widely distributed in over 50 range countries, where the threats to caracal populations vary in extent. Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, the building of roads and settlements is a major threat in all range countries. It is thought to be close to extinction in North Africa, critically endangered in Pakistan, endangered in Jordan, but stable in central and Southern Africa. Local people kill caracal to protect livestock, or in retaliation for its preying on small livestock. Additionally, it is threatened by capturing for the pet trade on the Arabian Peninsula. In Turkey and Iran, caracals are frequently killed in road accidents. In Uzbekistan, the major threat to caracal is killing by herders in retaliation for livestock losses. Guarding techniques and sheds are inadequate to protect small livestock like goats and sheep from being attacked by these agile predators.

According to Rowland Ward Ltd, the largest caracal hunted had a skull measuring 11 12/16 inches or 29.8cm.

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