# Caracal (*Caracal caracal*)

> The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat with distinctive black ear tufts, long legs, and a short tail, capable of leaping more than 3 metres to snatch birds in flight. Found across Africa, the Middle East, and into India, it hunts rodents, hares, and small antelope in open country.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Africa south of the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, Turkey, and western India through Pakistan in savanna, scrub, and dry woodland.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/caracal/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Carnivora
- **Family:** Felidae
- **Genus:** Caracal

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Caracal caracal |
| Diet | Carnivore — rodents, hares, birds, and small antelope |
| Habitat | Savannas, scrub, dry forests, and rocky hills |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years in the wild (longer in captivity) |
| Weight | 8–19 kg (18–42 lb); males larger |
| Top speed | Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) in short pursuit |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Spectacular leaping hunter

Caracals are famed for knocking down multiple birds with a single leap — historically featured in falconry displays in India and Persia. Powerful hind legs launch them vertically; they also hunt on the ground by stalking and short sprints.

## Ear tufts and senses

Long black tufts on ear tips may aid signalling or camouflage in tall grass. Excellent hearing and night vision suit caracals to dawn and dusk hunting. They are largely silent cats, communicating with growls, hisses, and purrs.

## Solitary and wide-ranging

Caracals are solitary and territorial, with home ranges that can exceed 200 km² in arid areas. Females bear one to six kittens in dense cover or abandoned burrows. Kittens stay with the mother for up to a year.

## Conservation across continents

Globally Least Concern, caracals nevertheless face persecution as poultry predators and habitat loss in parts of North Africa and Asia. In South Africa they adapt to farmland where rodent prey is abundant, but snaring and road kills take a toll.

## Frequently asked questions

### How high can a caracal jump?

Caracals can leap 3 metres or more vertically to catch birds — among the highest jumps relative to body size of any cat.

### What are the ear tufts for?

The black tufts may help with communication, species recognition, or breaking up the ear outline in grass, though their exact function is debated.

### Where do caracals live?

Africa south of the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, and western India through Pakistan — mainly open dry country.

### Caracal vs lynx?

Caracals have longer legs, uniform reddish coat, and longer ear tufts. Lynxes are stockier with shorter legs and often spotted or grey fur adapted to colder climates.

### Are caracals dangerous to humans?

Wild caracals avoid people. Captive caracals can injure handlers — they are powerful predators, not pets.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Caracal caracal.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Caracal%20caracal&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Caracal caracal. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Caracal_caracal/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/caracal/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.