Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Caracal

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Caracal
Page 47

Felis caracal

Length: 62-91 cm (25-36")

Tail: 18-34 cm (7-13")

Weight: 8-13 kg (17.6-28.6 lb.) female, 12-19 kg (26-42 lb.) male

Status: Not endangered; it appears to have adapted well to the presence of humans.

Habitat: Caracals are found in arid semi-desert areas and dry savannas throughout Africa. They are also found in Asia. They like plains and rocky hills in areas where there is a short wet season and limited grass cover.

Food: Caracals are superb hunters and take much larger prey than one would expect for a cat this size. It preys on many of the same species as leopards do, including hyraxes, grass rats, ground squirrels, blue monkeys, vervets, red-tailed monkeys, bats, Thomson's gazelles, young antelope and birds (ranging in size up to the martial eagle). It will ambush doves and pigeons at waterholes by leaping up into the air and grabbing them. There is even a record of an ostrich falling victim to this cat.

Caracals will also scavenge from the leftover kills of other animals.

Reptiles and fruit are sometimes eaten.

Social System: Like the serval, caracals are territorial but there has been little study done on this aspect of their behavior. They are solitary except when they are with young or a pair has come together to mate.

Behavior: Births occur year round with peaks in the rainy season. A typical litter consists of one to four kittens that are born in a safe, secluded spot. The nest is lined with hair and feathers. Sometimes the mother will use the burrow of another species. Gestation is between 62 and 81 days.

The kittens’ eyes open in nine days. They are walking within 9 to 17 days. By the time they are three weeks old, they are already leaving the nest and chasing small prey. They do not start eating meat until they are a month to a month and a half old.

Caracals reach puberty in 7 to 10 months.

Predators: Kittens are vulnerable to a variety of predators such as raptors, snakes and jackals. Hyenas and leopards occasionally manage to capture adults.

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