Context:
Recently, first photographic record of Caracal was shared from Rajasthan’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.
Caracal:
- Common Name – Siya gosh (Persian for ‘black ear’) in India
- Distribution – Found in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia
- Only a few remain in India, primarily in Rajasthan and Gujarat
- Habitat – Adaptable to diverse environments—grasslands, savannas, scrublands, forests, and rocky hills
- Has large, black pointed ears and a slender body with long legs; largest among African small cats
- Special Traits – Exceptional jumper, capable of leaping over 2 meters to catch birds mid-flight
- Behavior – Nocturnal; lives in small groups; elusive and shy, making them difficult to spot in the wild
- Conservation Status –
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
- India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection level)
- CITES: Appendix I
Source: TOI
Previous Year Question
What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India?
1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 3 is incorrect. It can be domesticated.