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Two caracals recently joined the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort’s (AWPR) growing family of arid land carnivores. Perhaps the last of the medium-sized cat species surviving in the UAE, the caracal is a special conservation concern of AWPR’s arid land carnivore conservation program.
Caracals, widespread in Africa and parts of Asia, are also indigenous to the mountain areas of the UAE, where they are severely threatened by human persecution and habitat destruction. In February 2010, reports surfaced of caracals trapped and killed by farmers in the northern Emirates. Caracal sightings, let alone killings, are very rare because of their shy nature and near extinction in the UAE.
Caracals mainly inhabit dry mountain areas with small shrub-like vegetation and larger acacia trees similar to the habitats of Ras Al Khaimah and the Hajar mountains. Caracals have a short reddish-brown coat with a white chin, throat and belly. Their ears, tipped with black fur, are pointed. Males grow to 18 kilograms and 90 centimetres in length. When gazelle, francolin and hares were plentiful and people more scarce in the mountainous areas of the UAE, caracals flourished.
The pair was donated to the park by a family living in Yemen who was unable to provide proper care for the animals. “These are feisty cats. The family wanted to ensure the animals were provided with the best possible shelter and care,” said Farshid Merhdadfar, AWPR’s animal collection manager.
To learn more about the caracals, visit the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort “Wild Nights’ from 4pm to 12 midnight and on Fridays from 10am to 12 midnight.
For more information, visit www.awpr.ae or call 800 AWPR.
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