Rare wild cat spotted in Ranthambore park

TNN | Updated: Apr 9, 2020, 07:49 IST

A pair of elusive caracal

JAIPUR: In a rare sighting, a pair of elusive caracal was captured in the forest trap camera at the Ranthambore National Park (RNP).
The medium-sized wild cat, which is shy, nocturnal, elusive and difficult to spot in the wild, was spotted in Taleda Range at 5.59 pm on Tuesday. A forest official said, “Caracal is a medium-sized wild cat, native of Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and India, listed in the IUCN Red List as a threatened species. Luckily, Ranthambore has around 20 such cats. Being extremely shy, the cats are very difficult to spot. As park is closed and there were no tourists, movements of these cats were captured in the evening. ”
Officials informed this species has tufts of hair at the ends of the ear. They are nocturnal, agile, fighters, elusive, good hunters and found in small herds. “It hunts rodents and game birds, which it hunts with amazing speed and dexterity. It can jump 3 metres in one leap and stalks prey on paws shaped like a cheetah’s. It is easily recognised by its long pointed ears that end in tufts,” said an official.
They inhabit dry, arid regions and moist woodlands are protected under Schedule (I) of the Indian Wildlife Act for being critically endangered due to loss of habitat in many of the states.