Caracal

Why in news?

• The National Board for Wildlife on Wednesday approved a recovery program for the caracal, which is now a critically endangered species.

About Caracal:

• The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India.
•  It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, and long canine teeth.
• Typically nocturnal, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is territorial, and lives mainly alone or in pairs.
• The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents.
• It can leap higher than 4 metres (12 ft) and catch birds in midair.
• It inhabits forests, savannas, marshy lowlands, semideserts, and scrub forests, but prefers dry areas with low rainfall and availability of cover.
• The caracal is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, mainly due to their large numbers in Africa. But in India they are ‘endangered’.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Caracal:
1.It is considered as Least Concern by IUCN red list.
2.They are endemic to India and Pakistan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question