Network For Animals Logo
Network For Animals Logo
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Donate now
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate

Wild Caracals living on Table Mountain, but not for long unless they get help

  • March 17, 2020
  • News
  • South Africa
African lynx

Few people know that wild cats called caracals (a.k.a rooikat or African lynx) still live in Cape Town. These beautiful, mainly nocturnal predators live around the famous Table Mountain and survive on wild prey like rodents and birds.  They are not a threat to people, but they are vulnerable as never before.

Leopards are now locally extinct on the Cape Peninsula, making caracals the largest remaining predator, and only about 60 of them are estimated to still roam the mountains. However, people may be killing them without even knowing it.  Caracals on the Cape Peninsula die from exposure to poisons and diseases. We are trying to help save them.

Caracals
Cape Town Caracals eat reptiles and rodents, including poisoned rats

Many of these shy cats die from exposure to diseases carried by domestic animals, such as toxoplasmosis, parvovirus and feline AIDS. They are also being killed by poisons that urban residents put down for rodents and other small pests.

The Urban Caracal Project, based at the University of Cape Town, conducts research on these urban caracals that live close to people. The organisation is collaring and collecting data about caracals  to better understand how these wild cats are adapting to rapid urbanisation and human encroachment on their natural territories.

Caracals
Very few people know that Table Mountain is home to wild caracals. Here’s proof. That’s the Cape Town Stadium in the background.

It is vital that we learn, for example, just how badly exposure to poison affects caracal health, and how that might affect the remaining caracal population in the future.

We need funds to perform genetic analysis and to test for poison exposure. This will help scientists to better understand what is killing the caracals of Table Mountain, how genetic inbreeding is affecting the population, and how we can stop this tragedy. NFA cares about all animals – domestic and wild, rural and urban – and is very concerned that caracals might completely disappear from the Cape Peninsula. We have promised to help raise the funds the project needs to send samples for testing and raise awareness about caracal conservation.

Caracals
Table Mountains beautiful wild caracal cats are under threat from poison in Cape Town.

David Barritt, executive director of Network for Animals, said: “It is fascinating and rather comforting that these marvellous creatures manage to survive on the fringe of a city of five million people with dense urban areas.

“If we can manage the ensure that caracals survive so close to Cape Town, it gives hope that our children and grandchildren will one day see them living happily on Table Mountain.”

Caracals
Incredibly beautiful wild cats in a last stand on Table Mountain.

By supporting our work, you are reaching out with caring hands to stop animal abuse

Please donate now
Stay up to date

Stay up to date

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Dolphin Shows Done And Dusted In New South Wales

After decades of exploitation, captive dolphins will no longer be commercially bred or imported into the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). Condemnation of

6 March 2021

GOOD NEWS out of Africa! Pawcasso has SURVIVED being baked alive!

https://youtu.be/KDa2V2GlIPA There’s good news about Pawcasso, the South African street dog left to bake and die in the harsh African sun. Pawcasso had a bad

5 March 2021
Donations in ACTION in February

Your Donations in ACTION in February 2021

During the month of love, you said “I do” to showing animals across the globe how big your heart is! Because of your support, we

3 March 2021

Humbug From Hugs Finds His Forever Home

Good news! One of the rescued Dartmoor Dozen ponies has found a forever home. Humbug, who was abandoned with his companions in a barren field

3 March 2021

Help us fight cruelty to animals around the world

Click here to donate

Network for Animals

Network for Animals is a non-government, international animal welfare organisation crusading for animals around the world.

© Network for Animals
Privacy policy

Campaigns

Cats In Crisis Disaster Relief Dogs In Distress Elephants Hunting with Hounds Organized Horse Fighting Seal Hunt Worldwide Donkey Crisis

Stay up to date

Receive our regular emails about our campaigns for animals around the world.

Sign up

Stay up to date with our campaigns

Contact us

+1 727 599 8148
+44 (0)20 8471 7666
info@networkforanimals.org

Facebook-f
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Linkedin

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

I agree