Caracals
Published on 11 Apr 2025
- With only an estimated 50 individuals remaining, predominantly in western India, the caracal is on the verge of extinction in the country.
- Caracals are small wild cats known for their long ears with tufts and a reddish-tan or sandy-brown fur. It is called Siya Gosh in India.
- It is nocturnal animal typically preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents.
- It has traditionally been valued for its flexibility and its extraordinary ability to catch birds in flight.
- They live naturally in India, especially in Northwestern India. They are also found in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
- They are found in Aravalli hill range, semi deserts, savannahs, scrublands, and dry forests.
- Caracals used to live all over Central India and the Indo-Gangetic plains, but they haven’t been spotted in those areas for 40 years.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN- Least Concern
- WPA- Schedule-1