Caracal Key Facts
* Largest of the small cats
* Black tufted ears
* Leaps to catch birds
Caracal Facts
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Caracal caracal
The name Caracal comes from Turkish word "karakulak" meaning 'black eared'. The Swahili name for Caracal is "Simbamangu" which means 'secretive lion' or 'secretive cat' as they are rarely seen.
The Caracal has distinctive long dark tufts on its large, pointed ears. It is one of the few cat species that don't have any spots or stripes on its coat.
Caracals occur throughout Africa and South East Asia but are absent from the extreme desert regions and rainforests.
UNIQUE BEHAVIOR
Caracals are capable of tremendous aerial acrobatic jumps. They can leap into the air and knock down 10-12 birds at one time (see video).
Caracal females can reproduce any time during the year, although births may peak at certain times in areas of distinct seasonal variation. Two to three Caracal kittens are born in a litter and kittens will remain with the female until nine or ten months old.
HISTORY
Caracals were once tamed and 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 birds the cat would take down. This is the origin of the expression "to put a cat among the pigeons".
Further Information
The following professional organizations have well researched and accurate information on Caracals:
- Conservation Status - IUCN Red List
- Detailed Account - IUCN Cat Specialist Group
- Academic Literature pdf - IUCN Cat Specialist Group
- Species Overview - International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC)
- Fact File pdf - Arkive Wildscreen
- Urban Caracal Project - Research South Africa
- South African Mammal Red List - African Caracal and Methods (10Mb)
