Caracal Ecology

WHY CARACAL?


Caracal (Caracal caracal) is a widespread mesopredator in southern Africa. In South Africa, caracal are considered a major contributor to livestock losses. As a result, many farmers retaliate by using lethal controls to eradicate caracal and other predators, making them one of the most persecuted species in the country, alongside their mesopredator counterpart, the black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas).


Lethal controls are often indiscriminate, killing non-target species, thereby limiting the amount of wild prey available to predators. The prolific use of lethal controls raises the question of if and how these predator controls influence the ecology of caracal. 

OBJECTIVES


We assessed caracal ecology and behaviours across three land use zones with different predator management techniques:

  • 1) control site where there was no livestock and no predator management inputs;
  • 2) lethal site where traditional livestock farm where lethal controls were employed (including trapping and hunting);
  • 3) non-lethal site livestock farm where non-lethal predator controls were employed (human shepherds, kraaling and light deterrents).

Diet

Data collection:

Scat analysis.


Key results:

  • Across three study sites, caracals primarily consumed small mammals, lagomorphs (e.g., hares), rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) and invertebrates.
  • In the non-lethal control site:
  • Caracals had a broader dietary niche, indicating use of a wider range of natural prey.
  • No livestock consumption was recorded.
  • In the lethal control site:
  • Caracals consumed domestic livestock, though it contributed >5% of total biomass.
  • Narrower dietary niche, likely due to reduced availability of alternative prey.


Conclusion & implications:

  • Caracal diet is influenced by management practices and prey availability.
  • Promoting natural prey on farmlands may reduce livestock predation.
  • Caracals do not prefer livestock and resort to it mainly where natural prey is limited due to lethal control practices.

Habitat Selection & Activity Patterns

Data collection:

Camera trap survey on a non-lethal predator control livestock farm.


Habitat Selection:

  • Caracal presence was strongly influenced by natural food resources.
  • Livestock density had the least influence, suggesting caracals do not select habitats based on livestock presence.


Human Interaction & Behavioural Adaptation:

  • Caracals did not show spatial avoidance of human areas.
  • They exhibited temporal avoidance by being predominantly nocturnal, especially to avoid humans and extreme temperatures.
  • In winter, they shifted to crepuscular activity (dawn/dusk) to avoid cold nights.


Activity Overlap with Other Species:

  • High overlap with black-backed jackals, lagomorphs, and common duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia)
  • Low overlap with rock hyraxes, despite being a major food source, suggesting prey activity timing doesn’t always match predator timing.


Conclusions & Implications:

  • Caracals adapt to human presence more by changing their activity times than by avoiding human-modified spaces.
  • Maintaining natural prey populations and habitats on farmlands can support coexistence between caracals and humans.
  • The findings reinforce that livestock is not a primary attractant for caracals, and natural prey availability is key to reducing conflict.