The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat with a striking appearance: a short, dense coat in sandy to reddish-brown tones, prominent black-tufted ears, and pale underparts. Compact and muscular, the Arabian caracal moves with agile grace and is known for its sudden, explosive leaps when hunting birds. Its powerful hind legs and long tail help it stabilise mid-air during these acrobatic hunts.
Caracal
Zone
Arabian
Scientific name
Caracal caracal
IUCN Red List status
Least Concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Caracals typically inhabit dry savannahs, woodlands and the scrublands of Africa, as well as the Middle East and parts of Central Asia.
Dietary Requirements
Carnivore: Caracals are known to hunt hyraxes, hares, antelopes, rodents, small monkeys, and birds.
Threats
Habitat loss, human encroachment driving away its prey, and persecution.
Did you know?Specialised hunters able to leap more than three metres to catch birds in mid-flight.
About Al Ain Zoo
About Al Ain Zoo
A Pioneering Vision
Established in 1968 by the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Zoo has been in the forefront of preserving the region’s wildlife and delicate ecosystem, while caring for hundreds of endangered animals.
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