Rare Caracal Seen in Mandsaur's Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary — An Amazing Wildlife Comeback in Madhya Pradesh! Learn more about this animal
The presence of a rare species of "Caracal" has been recorded in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur. "Caracal", which is locally called "Syahgosh", was seen in the camera trap in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is a very shy, fast running and generally nocturnal animal of the carnivorous species. It is mainly found in dry, bushy, rocky and open grassy areas. In India, this species has now been placed in the endangered category and its presence is considered very rare.
The forest officer of Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary said that the presence of an adult male Caracal has been recorded in the camera trap installed in the Forest Division Mandsaur, which is important from the point of view of biodiversity. It is also a proof of our commitment towards the quality and conservation of the protected habitats in the sanctuary.
The presence of Caracal shows that the dry and semi-arid ecosystem of the Gandhi Sagar area is still intact. The systems are still so rich and balanced that they can provide shelter to this rare species.
After many years, Caracal has been confirmed in a protected area in Madhya Pradesh, which is a matter of pride for the state. This discovery is not only very important for wildlife research, but is also a proof of the success of our conservation efforts.
Due to the special efforts of the officers and employees of the Forest Department and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, diverse ecology has been preserved, due to which today this sanctuary has become a safe haven for rare species.
Caracal can leap higher than 3 meter
The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, relatively short tail, and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches 40–50 cm (16–20 in) at the shoulder and weighs 8–19 kg (18–42 lb).
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 birds, rodents, and other small mammals.
It can leap higher than 3 meter (9.8 ft) and catch birds in midair. They are also efficient tree climbers.
Both sexes become sexually mature by the time they are one year old and breed throughout the year.
In India, the caracal occurs in Sariska Tiger Reserve and Ranthambhore National Park. Its contemporary distribution is limited to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The Indian population may be under 100.