Conservation of Asiatic caracal

Project Animal(s) : Asiatic caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi)
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Across the World, Asia, Europe
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=621
Project is timebound? : No

The species Caracal caracal is assessed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. The caracal populations in Asia are included in Appendix I of CITES. The caracal is classified as Critically Endangered in the Oman National Red Data Book. The caracal is legally protected in most of its range countries, but better implementation of legislation is needed. Hunting is prohibited in Afghanistan, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The species is legally protected in all range countries on the Arabian Peninsula.

There are efforts to improve the knowledge about the status and the ecology of the caracal outside Africa and protected areas. For example, a caracal project to research habitat ecology of the caracal was established in Turkey. Such projects are important to set priorities and are fundamental for the conservation of the caracal and the development of effective and ecologically sound methods for its management, especially on private land. Caracals have an adaptable behaviour which seems to enable them to recolonize vacant areas after local extirpation. Without heavy persecution, the caracal adjusts well to living in settled areas. In this regard, there is a need to minimize conflict with humans mainly with farmers, and more effective small stock protection. Caracals can even be beneficial for crop farmers since they can effectively limit pests such as hyrax populations.

Generally, very little is known about the caracal’s ecology, behavior, threats, distribution and status in Asia. There is an urgent need for more research on this species to can define its status and effective conservation measures.

Project Agency : Cat Specialist Group

Project Agency Contact : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=1

Additional Information :

http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=13