THE CARACAL 



The Caracal is found from the Cape right through 

 Africa to its most northern limits, and extends 

 eastwards to Arabia, Persia, and the western parts 

 of India. In the Knysna and Addo forests, near 

 Port Elizabeth, this cat, although not actually- 

 common, is sufficiently so to be regarded as a pest. 

 During the past six years over a score have been 

 shot and sent to me, and it is a common occurrence 

 for farmers to shoot, trap, and poison them. As 

 many as a dozen have, during the past four years, 

 to my knowledge, been captured alive in the Uiten- 

 hage district. 



In the past in South Africa the Rooi-kat inhabited 

 the open country, such as the sparsely-wooded 

 bush-veld, and was frequently met with in the 

 more exposed kloofs, on thinly-wooded hillsides, 

 and amongst tall grass and reeds. Except in the 

 wilder secluded parts of the country, where the 

 European with his gun and dogs rarely penetrates, 

 this large and wary cat has now taken to the dense 

 forests and thickly-wooded kloofs and scrub- 

 covered hillsides. From these secure retreats it 

 issues forth by night into the more open country 

 in search of some bird or animal for a meal. Its 

 natural diet consists of the smaller antelopes, Klip 

 Dassies, Tree Dassies, hares, rats, and other 

 mammals, as well as the larger birds. If its natural 

 prey should prove insufficient for its needs, or should 

 the wild animals and birds have become shy and 

 experienced, and consequently difficult to stalk 

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