News

A trophy and at the same time saving small livestock?

First of all what is a caracal? A few facts:

• It is the fourth-largest cat in Africa after lions, leopards and cheetahs.
• It is variously classified in the genus Felis or its unique genus Caracal.
• It has a wide geographic range, currently including Africa, Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It is only common in southern Africa. 
• It is classified as a “problem” animal in South Africa and Namibia because it can prey on small livestock.
• Caracals appear to have held some religious significance for the ancient Egyptians. They were found in wall paintings, their bodies embalmed, and sculptures of caracals and other cats guarded tombs.

There no reliable estimates of caracal populations, and their population trend is “unknown” according to the IUCN. CITES lists African caracals on Appendix II and Asian caracals on Appendix I.

As caracals are “capable” of taking small domestic livestock, they are often subject to persecution. Over the years 1931-1952 an average of 2,219 caracals EACH YEAR were killed in control operations in the Karoo, South Africa. Similarly, Namibian farmers responding to a government questionnaire reported killing up to 2,800 caracals in 1981.

These days, CITES export records show that from 2003-2012, South Africa exported 871 skins, 144 “bodies”, 1152 skulls and 4824 hunting trophies. Namibia came a distant second with 239 skins, 10 bodies, 58 skulls and 652 trophies.

By far the greatest percentage of the caracal hunting trophies went to the USA of course.

South Africa exported 246 live caracals, most to dubious destinations like the Arab Emirates, China and Myanmar (Burma). South Africa also exported 45 live caracals to the Czech Republic, something worthy of investigation.

Strangely, there are hardly any organizations with direct concerns for caracals. It would seem they are badly needed, but as Africa’s “fourth cat”, and the world public not really aware of this species, it would seem there are few champions of one of the world’s most beautiful cats.

Picture credit: africanskyhunting.co.za

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