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Meet the
caracal.
Caracals are adaptable predators found across Africa and into western and central Asia. Their global status masks regional declines and fragmented populations.
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Appearance
Slender and athletic with a plain reddish-tan coat, pale underside, short tail and long black ear tufts.
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Behaviour
Mostly solitary and often nocturnal, though activity shifts with disturbance and climate. It can leap sharply to catch birds.
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Diet
Hunts small-to-medium mammals and birds, with reptiles and other prey taken opportunistically.
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Habitat
Savanna, semi-desert, scrub, dry woodland and rocky country.
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Distribution
Occurs widely but unevenly across Africa, the Middle East and into parts of Central and South Asia.
