Animal Talk with Pecker: The Caracal

It's beautiful, elegant, cunning and deadly. The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India.



The caracal is strong and athletic, with the largest males reaching nearly 2-ft at the shoulders, 4-ft in total length, and nearly 50-lbs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds and rodents. It can leap higher than 10-ft and catch birds in mid-air. It stalks its prey until it is within 15-ft of it, after which it runs it down, the prey being killed by a bite to the throat or to the back of the neck. The caracal has been estimated to run at a stunning 50 MPH, potentially making it the second fastest cat to the cheetah.




With the body proportions of a large dog, and the athletic ability to match Africa's best, this predatorial pussy is a formidable foe.



The caracal is a slick character, preferring to lurk in the shadows and hunt at low-light. The surreptitious nature of the foxy feline has not precluded it from sometimes violent encounters with some of Africa's deadliest predators. This is due to the large range inhabited by the crafty cat. The caracal prefers to avoid confrontations with other predators unless faced with an immediate threat or protecting its young. The hyena, cheetah, serval, honey badger, cobra, viper and other predators may be met with an aggressive charge when encroaching on caracal territory.








Unfortunately, this beautiful cat is sometimes hunted in the wilds of Africa. Spread the word and do your part to help protect this majestic creature. Gather your friends and family and tell them to do their part so that your grandchildren can enjoy the caracal as you do today!