Caracals

Caracal (Caracal caracal)
Range: Africa and into the Middle East
Status: Least Concern

Caracals are 30- to 50-pound wild cats with an ever-shrinking native range. They are very agile and are capable of jumping up to catch birds that have just taken off. They been recorded jumping more than six feet up, and are renowned for being able to take out more than one bird in a single jump! They also hunt small mammals, lizards, and (occasionally) domestic goats and sheep. Their success in taking livestock has meant several countries have put a bounty on them, contributing to their declining population.

Meet Our Caracals