Caracal

Afrikaans name: Rooikat

Caracal have big ears tipped with hair

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Caracal caracal

Interesting facts about Caracals

The Caracal is a beautiful creature with its distinctive tufted ears. It is widely distributed across Africa and occurs in Asia as far as India. This cat is called a Desert Lynx in some parts of its range.

Caracals are solitary animals and are not often seen. They are only seen with other Caracals when mating or they have their young with them. They are most active at night but sometimes they coume out during the day.

They hunt a variety of mammals and birds and are able to kill antelope the size of a Springbok. Unfortunately they sometimes kill smaller livestock on farms which leads to them being hunted or poisoned.

Females can give birth to up to 6 kittens. The young are raised by the female and stay with her for about a year.

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 210

Wild Issue 41 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 45

Wild Ways - 2nd Edition - Author: Peter Apps - Published: 2000 - Page: 79

Wild Issue 24 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 44

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 81

The Smaller Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. De V. Pienaar et al - Published: 1980 - Page: 75

The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa - Author: P. Briggs - Published: 2020 - Page: 324

The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 2011 - Page: 116

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 64

South African Animals in the Wild - Author: Anthony Bannister - Published: 1985 - Page: 78

Signs of the Wild - 3rd Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1986 - Page: 109

Signs of the Wild - 5th Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1996 - Page: 104

Predators of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Grobler, Hall-Martin & Walker - Published: 2012 - Page: 109

Questions and Answers - Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 4

Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Published: 1980 - Page: 28

Maberlys Mammals of Southern Africa - Revised edition - Author: Richard Goss - Published: 1986 - Page: 99

Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 1987 - Page: 53

Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Published: 1986 - Page: 101

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Published: 1987 - Page: 262

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 417

Guide to the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park - Author: Gus Mills and Clem Haagner - Published: 1996 - Page: 48

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 106

First Field Guide to Animal Tracks of Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2003 - Page: 39

Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar et al. - Published: 1987 - Page: 94

Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2001 - Page: 154

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 154

Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1997 - Page: 284

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 252

Chris and Tilde Stuarts Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 1st Edit - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1988 - Page: 154

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 34

An Introduction to the Larger Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Joanna Dalton - Published: 1987 - Page: 119

Africas Big Cats and Other Carnivores - Author: Nigel Dennis - Published: 2001 - Page: 66

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Published: 1999 - Page: 68

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa including Madagascar - Author: Theodor Haltenorth and Helmut Diller - Published: 1980 - Page: 225

A Field Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife - 3rd - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2000 - Page: 20

A Field Guide to the Eastern Cape Coast - Author: R. Lubke, F. Gess & M. Bruton - Published: 1988 - Page: 308

SANBI

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List of South African Mammals