Rajasthan
Rare Caracal Cub Spotted in Jaisalmer Desert
- 05 Sep 2025
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Experts have confirmed a rare caracal cub in the Jaisalmer desert, making a significant wildlife discovery for Rajasthan.
- Following a photo-based sighting, authorities have launched population surveys and intensified patrolling in the border areas of Jaisalmer.
Key Points
- About: The Caracal is a medium-sized wildcat found in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, including India.
- In India, the population is estimated at around 50 individuals, mostly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- It plays an important role in local ecosystems as a predator and is known for its distinctive physical features and remarkable hunting abilities.
- Habitat: Adapted to savannas, semi-deserts, dry woodlands, rocky hills, arid hilly steppes, and dry mountainous regions.
- Taxonomy and Relation: Caracal is more closely related to the African golden cat and serval than to true lynxes, despite often being called the “desert lynx”.
- In India, it is called ‘siya gosh’, a Persian-derived term meaning ‘black ear’.
- Its scientific name is Caracal caracal.
- Physical Features:
- Caracals possess slender bodies and long legs, and are the largest among Africa’s small cats.
- Adults weigh between 8-18 kg and may reach up to a meter in length. Males are generally larger than females.
- The fur is short, dense, and ranges from tawny-brown to reddish-tan with lighter underparts.
- They have distinct facial markings, featuring dark lines and white highlights around the eyes.
- Conservation Status:
- Least Concern (globally) in the IUCN Red List.
- Listed under Schedule I of India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (maximum protection).
- Threats:
- Habitat loss, shrinking prey base, and human-wildlife conflict.
