Jaipur: The brief thrill surrounding a possible Caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) sighting in Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) was short-lived as wildlife experts confirmed the cat to be a jungle cat. On Oct 22, forest officials reported spotting what they believed to be a Caracal, sparking widespread excitement among conservationists hopeful for the presence of this rare feline in Rajasthan's wilderness, particularly in the national park closest to Delhi and the NCR. However, after close inspection, experts identified the animal as a jungle cat, dampening the initial jubilation.
A forest official said, "After examining the videographic evidence, we found it was a jungle cat and not the endangered Caracal. The footage was taken from a distance and was hazy, which led to some confusion. The shape and size were also misjudged."
A former State Wildlife Board member and president of the Sariska Tiger Foundation, who earlier questioned the Caracal claim, elaborated on the distinguishing features that confirmed the sighting as a jungle cat. "The jungle cat has a noticeably longer tail with a distinct black tip at the end, as well as specific shading and stripes on its legs that are absent in Caracals," he said, adding, "The cat in the video also appeared proportionally smaller in both height and length than a Caracal."
According to the recently published book "Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat," the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) last recorded a Caracal in the reserve through a camera trap image taken on June 5, 2012.
Environmentalists emphasised the importance of conducting surveys to estimate Caracal occupancy and population density.