Rare caricatures spotted in Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan Jaipur News – Times of India

Jaipur: Photographic evidence of two enigmatic caracals, which are poised to become India’s second wild cat species after the leopard, have been recorded in a newly notified report. Ramgarh Vishadhari Tiger Reserve The presence of these medium-sized wild cats in Bundi district was captured by camera traps in Ramgarh Valley on 19 December and Mehropura Hills on 25 December.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sanjeev Sharma said, “During the last two decades there has been no record of caracals in the region. The presence of these two rare cats, which are listed as an endangered species, is a rare occurrence.” IUCN Red Listis a promising sign for conservation efforts.”
Rajasthan can take pride in sheltering these endangered cats in its forests, which are facing serious threats due to habitat loss in many states. Before 1947, caracals were reported over 7,93,927 square kilometers of India.
However, their range declined by 47.99% between 1948 and 2000 and a staggering 95.95% between 2001 and 2020, shrinking to just 16,709 square kilometers, their 1948–2000 range. less than 5% of and only 5% of their 1948-2000 range. is less than Range
A forest official said, “A recent report published in the International Journal of Threatened Taxa highlighted 24 caracal sightings (protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act) in Rajasthan since 2001. That the state is the highest in the country could not be determined.”
These elusive wild cats are found primarily in dry deciduous forests with wetland habitats adjacent to water bodies and heavily eroded river banks. They also live in dry, arid regions and moist forests.
In Rajasthan, apart from Ranthambore and its adjoining areas, Karakals have been observed in Dholpur, Udaipur and the isolated Chittorgarh-Pratapgarh region. “The caracal is native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India and is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red List,” a forest official said.
Distinguished by the distinctive tufts of hair on the tips of their ears, caracals are nocturnal, agile, energetic, and expert hunters. They hunt rodents and game birds with great speed and skill. The official added, “A caracal can jump three meters in a single bound and its claws resemble those of a leopard. They are easily recognized by their long, pointed ears that end in tufts”.