Among small wild cats, caracal stands out for its beauty. It can be dark brown or have a bright red color. Females of this species are very beautiful. The color of their coat is much lighter than that of males. There are many dark small spots on the body of the caracal.
The weight of males can reach up to 20 kilograms. Females weigh much less. Only 13 kilograms. The tail of this predator is half cut. This differs from the tails of predators of the cat family.
Nutrition
Caracal is only a carnivorous predator. But their diet depends on the place of residence. In Africa, these cats can prey on ungulates. In Asia, caracals feed mainly on small birds and rodents. There are many confirmations of this cat's beautiful jumping while catching birds. Caracal has its own record. In one jump on the fly it knocks down to 12 birds!
An interesting list of the diet of this cat:
- Different types of rodents;
- Hares, rabbits;
- Small birds and their eggs;
- Small breeds of monkeys;
- Small antelopes;
- Fast-moving gazelles;
- Bustards in Africa.
Also, these predators can catch reptiles. Caracals can take a powerful blow to take the victim’s life, which weighs several times more than the hunter himself. Due to the fact that the caracal has hind legs longer than its front, it makes huge jumps and brings big game to the ground.
Caracal climbs trees very well, often stores its prey high on branches so that it does not go to numerous predators.This is facilitated by long retracting claws, as in pets.
Lifestyle
Basically, caracal is a nocturnal predator. But sometimes it can be found on the hunt and in the afternoon. In the afternoon, it is very difficult to notice the caracal. This cat is well masked and at a distance feels the approach of people. She can lie almost motionless for several hours, hiding next to a person.
This cat leads a solitary lifestyle. Males do not stay with the female when she has cubs. Caracals have a large area for hunting. They do not let rivals enter their territory, even if they are larger than them. In Africa, caracals expel predators that are twice as large from their range. Also, these amazing cats can live without water for a long time. They do not suffer from drought. Therefore, in these terrible times for other animals, on the contrary, they gain weight, as they set up ambushes on trails near small reservoirs. Caracals, like all cats, hiss, meow and growl loudly.
Enemies
From large enemies of the caracal rescues an amazing disguise. Lying on the ground, this predator literally merges with the terrain. Also, these cats move quite easily along small rocks. In nature, caracals have enemies such as leopards, lions and hyenas. But they themselves never attack this cat. Caracal is very aggressive and therefore big cats try to avoid it. Packs of hyenas can attack a caracal to take prey from him.
The main enemy for caracal is man. People raid this cat, as sometimes they attack livestock.Very often, caracal is mined because of its meat. In many tribes, the meat of this cat is a real delicacy. The skin is not very popular. In the wild, this predator lives about 12 years. In captivity, like all predators, caracals live up to 17 years.
Population and species status
In many states, caracal is in the Red Book. Hunting for this predator in such Asian and African states as Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan, Israel, Turkey and others is completely prohibited.
But in Namibia and in the state of South Africa, caracal is mined, because there he is a real fighter for livestock. In Russia, the Netherlands and the United States, caracal owners are kept as pets. At home, this cat is quite peaceful, but can be aggressive towards its owners.
Gradually, the number of caracals is increasing. But due to the fact that humans constantly capture areas of wildlife, these cats are forced to leave their habitats, hiding from humans.
