Caracal

Caracal (Caracal caracal)

The caracal, also known as the desert lynx, ranges throughout sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the rainforests, and in the Arabian peninsula, excluding the deserted areas. They inhabit arid country: woodlands, savannas, steppes, and acacia scrub.
he northern subspecies, L. c. michaelis is classified as Rare by the IUCN. All other subspecies are common and have a healthy, stable population. In fact, they are so common in some areas of their range that they are running into problems with farmers. In some areas of their range they are killed for their skin and meat by bush people. Their fur has little commercial value. The caracal is protected in the African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, and in the Asian countries of India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Elsewhere, hunting is permitted or else they have no legal protection. In South African and Namibia, they are control-hunted regularly.