With two different caracal (Caracal caracal) sightings this month, it is only fitting that this gorgeous cat is our species of the month for September!
With two different caracal sightings this month, it is only fitting that this gorgeous cat is our species of the month for September!
This elusive medium-sized cat is an uncommon sight on safari - especially during the day. Most commonly seen at night, and alone, there have not been many recorded sightings of this special animal on Ingwelala. Preferring more open areas with a bit of cover, if you’re lucky you might find a caracal secretively hiding amongst the grass!
Similar to a leopard in hunting technique, the caracal will silently stalk up to prey using cover to stay hidden, and then pounces on its prey to kill it. Rarer, though, is the leaping hunt of birds in flight - something very few people have been lucky enough to witness - a skill not many other cats in our area possess with such accuracy.
Caracals are known to be incredibly strong in relation to body size and have been known to take down prey up to three times their body weight, although smaller prey may be more common. Particular favourites in the dietary repertoire include duiker, steenbok, rodents, hares, mongooses, birds and even young impalas.
Although caracals are mostly solitary, there are social interactions you may see, if you are lucky enough, which are usually limited to mating or mothers and kittens. There have been sightings this year of a female with a kitten on Buffelsbed, although the kitten sadly did not make it. Being fiercely territorial though, it is likely that this female is still in the area and may soon have kittens again.
Litters can be up to 6 kittens at a time, which are born after around a 3-month gestation period, but kittens are usually only seen around 3 months after birth. Either way, any sighting of a caracal is extra special and rare!
Did you know?
Caracals are good climbers, and in relation to a leopard are stronger per kilogram of body weight! Caracals can weigh anywhere between 5 and 20kg, and may live as long as 11 or so years in the wild.
Being classified with the smaller cat species of Africa, the caracal is both the heaviest and fastest of the small cats and is known to be the most aggressive as well.
Words by Tess Woollgar, images courtesy Canva