Caracal

The caracal (which is derived from the Turkish word “karakulak,” meaning “black ear”) is a cat-like animal that is often referred to as the “desert lynx,” although it is not in the same family as the lynx or the same physical appearance, such as the ruff of hair around the face that a lynx may have. Instead, it has a short, very thick coat, usually a tawny-brown to brick-red color. As the name of the caracal implies, the backs of the caracal’s ears are black and topped with long black tufts. In addition, the caracal is the largest member of Africa’s small cats. The males can weigh as much as 40 pounds, and females 35 pounds. They usually stand between 16-20 inches at the shoulder, and are 35-39 inches long in total.

Caracals usually live in the drier parts of the savannah and woodland regions of Africa and prefer most of the time scrubbier, dry habitats. They also live in evergreen and mountain area forests, but they don’t prefer the forests that are more tropical-like or humid. Female caracals have a gestation period of about 78-81 days. They birth around 2-4 kittens per pregnancy, although two is the average. Once caracals are born, they are able to open their eyes right away; they won’t fully open and be able to completely see until 6-10 days after they are born. Caracals usually remain with their mothers for about a year after birth. After that, they are able to go off on their own. In the wild, there’s no record as to how long caracals can live. But in captivity, they can live for about 19 years.

The caracal’s diet is not all that uncommon. They usually prey on a variety of mammals, the most common of which are rodents, hares, and small antelope. Unlike other small African cats, they aren’t scared to hunt animals that are bigger than them, such as adult springbok or young kudu. Caracals also have been known to store their prey in trees and shrubs to prevent the other animals around from taking the prey while they are hunting.

The caracal’s predators consist mainly of humans. Humans, most of the times farmers, often kill them because they get into their livestock cages and kill their livestock. There’s occasionally an animal that kills the caracal, or they sometimes get hit by vehicles if they are roaming by roads. It’s less likely for this to occur than farmers killing them. Currently, there’s no attempt to the conservation of the caracal. They are one of the most endangered species of African cats; unfortunately, the caracal is a vital part of the South African wildlife and culture and without them, the habitats of them could fall drastically. The South African government must start conserving and protecting these animals before it’s too late.