Hunting Caracal's

I believe the record for the number of UNCAGED pigeons that a caracal could catch in a SINGLE leap from the ground...was 13. They were also easy to keep and transport by horseback. I think Bernhard Grzimek told me that, so you might find more info in his books.

I received this interesting e mail and the clip above from an "anonymous friend" in regards to a conversation we had a few weeks ago about the use of Caracal's in India for hunting(see link below.) I have to admit, I had no idea they were this athletic, and it would seem they are ideally suited, for a number of reasons for hunting small game, particularly birds like guinea fowl.

The Circus "NO SPIN ZONE": 03/12/11

From wiki:
It is most well-known for its skill with hunting birds; the Caracal is able to snatch a bird in flight, sometimes more than one at a time. The Caracal can jump and climb exceptionally well, which enables it to catch hyraxes better than probably any other carnivore. Its life expectancy in the wild is 12 years, or 17 years in captivity. Since it is also surprisingly easy to tame, it has been used as a hunting cat in Iran and India.

Males typically weigh about 13-18 kg (28-40 lbs), while females are smaller. The Caracal resembles a Eurasian Lynx and for a long time it was considered a close relative of the lynxes. Recent DNA research, however, has shown that the Caracal is not a close relative of lynxes at all, but is instead related to the Serval and the African Golden Cat.



For their size they also appear to be quite courageous and tenacious. Most impressive!!!