The
Caracal

    

Habitat
The desert lynx, like the caracal is also called, is at home in dry steppes and semi-deserts, dry forests and Thorn bush savannahs of Africa, Arabia and the Middle East. True deserts and wetlands, he avoids, however, why the name 'desert lynx' should also be used with caution.

 

   Size/Weight

Body length:
Tail length:
Body height (up to shoulder blade):
weight:

62-82 cm
23-32 cm
40-45 cm
  8-20 kg


Coat pattern

The coat color of the caracal varies depending on the habitat of red-brown to pale brown until sand or brick red. The backs of his ears are black, as are the typical "ear tufts" which have a length of about five centimeters. The name of the caracal is the way due to this feature. It is derived from the Turkish 'Garah Gulak off, which means' black ear'.

Mating behavior

The reproduction of the caracal is not anywhere - in the huge area of ​​distribution - in the same time, but depends on local conditions, mainly climate and food supply. Throughout the births take place in a season in which the density of the prey population is particularly high, and thus the food supply for the females during the breeding season is relatively simple.

Raising young

The gestation period is between 75 - 80 days, and there are usually born one to three, rarely four young per litter. As the birth place the female looks for a sure place  - rock niche, a hollow tree trunk or other safe place as hide. The newborn caracal are initially completely helpless, blind, 250-gram package. Around the tenth day of life, its eyes open, and with about a month, the milk teeth appear. At this age they begin to eat solid food, which they get from the mother. With six to seven months, then they take their first hunting attempt, however initially quite unsuccessful. Until the age of about one year they remain with their mother, and with two years, they are fully grown.

Hunting behavior

Like most cats, the caracal is mainly at night to hunt. The range of its prey is very broad, ranging from rodents and other small mammals to birds of all kinds, to smaller antelopes. Throughout its distribution area of ​​the Caracal has earned a reputation for its size one particularly fierce, fearless robber. In Swahili for example, it is therefore called Simba mangu ("little lion") or even Simba kali ("Fierce Lion").

Find out more

- In the East and in India the caracal was trained frequently for hunting antelope, rabbits and birds.
- The caracal has few natural enemies. However, Namibia were killed in 1981 alone, approximately 3000 of these beautiful animals by farmers as "cattle thief".


 

 

Wild cat and wild cat hybrids

Those who now sit fascinated in front of the screen and maybe the idea comes, to create such an animal that is well-advised to first of all become familiar with the necessary housing conditioned.

Breed of cats with wild cats share from filial generation F3 (great-grandfather is / was a wild cat) is is usually in behavior as a house cat. In wild cats is important to note, at most hand-rearing cats are limited livingroom suitable. 

Wild cats are not suitable for cats amateur. For the holding is extensive knowledge of the species important, about the behavior of cats and their needs. Beginning with the statutory provisions; wild cats are protected and require depending on the origin of a CITES certificate (which also applies in part to wildcat hybrids). In some states, is the posture generally prohibited, or you need a permit.

For wild cats and many hybrids in particular, the F1 and F2 generation is furthermore an indoor and outdoor habitats necessary and appropriate nutrition, husbandry and veterinary care in addition to the cost items that make the entertainment of such animals to an expensive pleasure.

Speaking of cost:
The cost of such a wild cat are amount depending on the rasse , on several thousand euros. The same is for wildcat hybrids.