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Source-This post on Caracal is based on the article “Protect India’s scrublands to save the caracal: Dharmendra Khandal & Ishan Dhar” published in “Down to Earth” on 30th March 2024.
Why in the News?
It has been observed that caracal is on the verge of extinction. It has necessitated the need for its conservation.
About caracal
| Aspects | Description |
| About | 1) It is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia including India. 2) In India, Caracal is called Siya gosh, a Persian name that translates as ‘black Ear’. 3) A Sanskrit fable (short story) exists about a small wild cat named deergha karn or ‘long-eared’. |
| Characteristics | 1) The caracal has long legs, a short face, long canine teeth. It has distinctive ears that are long and pointy with tufts of black hair at their tips. 2) It is an elusive, primarily nocturnal animal. Its sightings are not common. 3) It is a carnivore. It typically preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents. 4) It has traditionally been valued for its flexibility and its extraordinary ability to catch birds in flight. |
| Habitat | 1) Earlier they could be found in arid and semi-arid scrub forest regions of 13 Indian states. 2) The most significant potential habitat for caracals is in Rajasthan, followed by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. |
| Threats | Large-scale hunting, illegal trading and loss of natural habitats are major threats. |
| Conservation status | IUCN Red List: Least Concern Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I CITES: Appendix I |
UPSC Syllabus: Environment (species in news)
