Serieys, Laurel & Leighton, Gabriella & Merondun, Justin & Bishop, Jacqueline. (2024). Denning and maternal behavior of caracals (Caracal caracal). Mammalian Biology. 104. 615-621. 10.1007/s42991-024-00429-z.

We collected Caracal Caracal caracal presence locations using camera traps in the human-dominated Kailadevi landscape in southeastern Rajasthan, India.

Our survey effort of 5,258 camera trap days at 177 camera trap locations in a sampling area of about 600 km² yielded 92 independent photocaptures at 54 locations between January 2020 and March 2022. Relative abundance index values indicate that the Caracal has been consistently photocaptured over the three sampling sessions. We used these data to model potential Caracal habitats at the landscape level using MaxEnt, and we used generalized linear models to identify the factors influencing Caracal detection site at the camera trap level.

The habitat suitability results indicate that, out of the entire extent of 109,663 km² spanning the Greater Ranthambhore Ecosystem from eastern Rajasthan to western Madhya Pradesh, an area of 14,284 km² constitutes suitable habitat for the Caracal, of which about 26% occurs within the protected area network. Of all the suitable habitats, about 1,230 km² was classified as highly suitable, with 41% distributed across the protected area network. The Ranthambhore–Kailadevi–Dholpur cluster harbours the largest contiguous patches.

Suitable Caracal habitats showed positive association with open natural ecosystems, rugged terrain, and proximity to water, but negative association with human disturbance. At camera trap level, site use intensity of the Caracal was positively influenced by rugged terrain, open natural ecosystems, proximity to water, and distance from human settlements.

Based on published estimates for home range size and the extent of suitable habitat predicted by the MaxEnt model, Kailadevi can potentially support 8 (4–24) male and 23 (14–55) female Caracal home ranges, followed by Ranthambhore with 4 (2–11) male and 10 (6–24) female home ranges, and Dholpur with 3 (2–8) male and 7 (5–17) female home ranges. In total, the Ranthambhore-Kailadevi-Dholpur landscape can potentially harbour 55 (33–139) Caracal home ranges, providing a preliminary indication of the potential population supported by the currently available suitable habitat.

Our findings highlight the importance of conserving the open natural ecosystems, especially ravines, which provide refuge for the Caracal in this human-dominated landscape. Conservation strategies should prioritise to safeguard the potential Caracal habitats and maintain connectivity between these habitats to secure its long-term persistence.

Mairaj, Mohammad & Jain, Dhruv & Bhakar, Ramanand & Sadhu, Ayan. (2026). Distribution, habitat use, and abundance of the Caracal Caracal caracal (Schreber, 1776) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in a semi-arid Indian landscape. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 18. 28770-28783. 10.11609/jott.9987.18.5.28770-28783.

Caracal is an adaptive and generalist predator with high ecological tolerance on the other hand it has an isolated population in Türkiye.

We investigated the ecological characteristics of caracal (Caracal caracal) in the Mediterranean ecosystems of Southwestern Anatolia (Türkiye) where its population is isolated from other Asian populations.

We used field observations and camera trap methodology across a landscape covering 750 km 2 to determine the population status, morphology, behavioural characteristics, the status of species in the community, diet and habitat preference of caracal in the region.

Caracal density was estimated to be 0,18 caracals/km 2. The female home range was estimated to be between 4,1 km 2 and 25 km 2 whereas the male home range was estimated to be between 5 km 2 and 50 km 2 or more. Species' daily activity was determined as cathemeral. Annual activity patterns as well as home range sizes decreased during the dry season. During the wet season, caracal activity as well as home range sizes increased.

Vegetation cover was found to be the most important factor affecting habitat use by caracal. A strong negative correlation of 0.7 between caracal occurrence and forest cover indicated that forest cover was the most important factor affecting habitat use by a caracal. Caracal occurrence was also positively correlated with 3 mammal species in the study area, wild boar, European hare and wild goat.

Caracal was determined as the dominant carnivore species in the ecosystem. Wild herbivore populations in the study area seem to be influenced by caracal thus resulting in a conspicuous effect on grazing pressures.

We conclude that caracal is a keystone species in our ecosystem and plays a vital role in maintaining their integrity. Thus, the conservation of the caracal population is crucial for the conservation of the whole Mediterranean ecosystem.

Ilemin, Yasin & Koç, Hasan & Kaynaş, Burçin. (2023). Ecological characteristics of Caracal (Caracal caracal) in Türkiye: An isolated Feline population. 199-213. 10.5281/zenodo.8225067.

Livestock production in drylands has greatly altered ecosystem level processes, including the interactions between sympatric species. Management of livestock predation on farms requires an acute understanding of predator species' ecology, including their intraguild interactions.

In this study, we used camera trapping to investigate black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) and caracal (Caracal caracal) spatiotemporal overlap on different land-uses (viz., public and private protected areas, and a neighbouring group of small-livestock farms) in the Karoo, South Africa. We also used questionnaires to understand how local small-livestock farmers perceive factors influencing changes in the abundance of black-backed jackal and caracal and the trophic relationship between them.

Black-backed jackal and caracal spatiotemporal overlap was high, largely independent of land-use, and positively influenced by the presence of the other species. Black-backed jackal had higher overall occurrence than caracal, and caracal were more likely to occur on farmland than either protected area.

Farmers acknowledged that mesopredators may benefit from the absence of apex predators on farmlands and that black-backed jackal populations had increased more than caracal in recent times. However, farmers were less certain as to how mesopredators interact, whether they suppress one another and how their interactions may influence the perceived increase in both species' abundance.

Woodgate, Z.A.; Drouilly, M.; Nattrass, N.; O'Riain, M.J.
Co-occurrence of black-backed jackal and caracal in the Karoo, South Africa
2023 Journal of Arid Environments (219): 1-9

Caracal caracal (Schreber, 1776) is a felid commonly called the caracal. It is a slender, medium-sized cat (5.8–22 kg) characterized by a short tail and long ear tufts.

C. caracal has a wide distribution and is found throughout Africa, north to the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, central and southwest Asia into India; its habitat includes arid woodlands, savanna, scrublands, hilly steppes, and arid mountainous regions.

It is globally listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as “Least Concern” despite population trends unknown across most of its geographic distribution. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora lists Asian populations under Appendix I and African populations under Appendix II.

Amanda M Veals, Alexandra D Burnett, Marina Morandini, Marine Drouilly, John L Koprowski
Caracal caracal (Carnivora: Felidae)
2020 Mammalian Species (52) Issue 993: 71–85

Understanding activity and habitat use are important for identifying mechanisms facilitating species co-occurrence.

We studied habitat use and activity patterns of caracals (Caracal caracal) and servals (Leptailurus serval), primarily nocturnal, midsized felids that prey extensively on small mammals and co-occur in portions of sub- Saharan Africa.

Spatial and temporal patterns of segregation were investigated in a 1,085-km² area of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania from 2010-2012. We used occupancy analysis to quantify habitat use and kernel density estimators and Mardia-Watson-Wheleer tests to analyse activity patterns.

We found evidence for habitat divergence but high temporal overlap between species. Servals selected for grassland and avoided shrubland and wooded grassland. In contrast, the findings showed that caracals avoided grassland and woodland-shrubland; however, 73% of caracals were detected in wooded grassland. Overall, caracals and servals co-occurred independently, Species Interaction Factor, (phi = 1).

This indicates that differential use of habitats in part facilitated coexistence of caracals and servals.

Proper management of the declining grasslands including other habitats are recommended to facilitate continued coexistence. Additional studies, including feeding ecology, would be important to further understand mechanisms facilitating coexistence between caracals and servals.

Mwampeta, S.; Magige, F.J.; Belant, J.L.
Spatial and temporal overlap of caracal and serval in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
2020 African Journal of Ecology (58): 361-370

Most people lack the opportunity to see non-domesticated animals in the wild. Consequently, people's perception of wild animals is based on what they see on (social) media. The way in which (social) media portrays non-domesticated animals determines our perception of and behaviour to these animals. People like to interact with animals, which is why venues which offer the opportunity to interact with non-domesticated animals are popular wildlife tourist attractions (WTAs). However, these WTAs more often than not profit at the expense of animal welfare, conservation and human safety. Participation in such WTAs should therefore be discouraged.

Through (social) media we are regularly exposed to images of non-domesticated animals in close interactions with humans. Exposure to such images seems to blur the line between what is a friendly domesticated animal and what is a potentially dangerous wild animal. Such images may also increase our desire to engage in interactions with non-domesticated animals ourselves and reduce moral concerns about the use of non-domesticated animals for such interactions, thereby promoting WTAs in which tourists can interact with non-domesticated animals. Wild cat species are commonly used in the wildlife tourism industry to interact with tourists.

In this study, we determine whether portrayal of wild cat species in interactions with humans promotes WTAs with wild cats. We presented respondents with an image of a wild cat species (lion, cheetah, caracal) in a control setting, walked by a human (WTA), petted by a human (WTA) or in the wild and asked them to answer a fixed set of questions.

We found that portraying wild cat species in interactions with humans reduced the fear of wild cats, encouraged people to regard WTAs with wild cats as acceptable and stimulated them to participate in such activities themselves.

van der Meer, E.; Botman, S.; Eckhardt, S.
I thought I saw a pussy cat: Portrayal of wild cats in friendly interactions with humans distorts perceptions and encourages interactions with wild cat species
2019  PLoS ONE (14): 1-24