Did you know the smallest wild cat species in the world weighs just 1.2 kg (2 pounds?) Like their big cousins, the small felines are under threat – habitat loss, illegal hunting for food and fur, persecution – these are just a few of the dangers facing them. ISEC Canada was formed in 1990 to help the 28 small cat species. You can help by making a donation.
100% of donations go to the cats!
Our programs support scientific field research learning about the cats in their native countries. For instance, research may help determine the actual number of Caracals in the wild which at present is unknown.
The word Caracal means ‘black ears’ in Turkish. Large, tapering ears with five cm erect tufts of black hair, used for communication, are the most unique feature of this cat. Black-backed ears, dark spots on both sides of the muzzle, black spots above the eyes and a black stripe from the eye to the nose break up an otherwise uniform tawny-brown to brick-red colouring. Learn more
ISEC Canada has sponsored studies on small wild cats around the world. Where are the cats located? What kind of habitat do they use? What do they eat? How large is the population? These and many other questions must be answered before any conservation plans can be put in place.
100% of donations are sent directly to small wild cat conservation programs around the world.
One of the projects that we have supported annually since 1993 is the Black-footed Cat Project. ISEC Canada has been recognized as the longest running supporter of this project.This long-running field study is learning what these tiny cats need to survive in the deserts of South Africa, and we are proud to support this vital work. Please help us continue our support.
The Black-footed Cat Felis nigripes is Africa’s smallest felid, and among the smallest wild cat species in the world. As special adaptations to their desert habitat, these cats have a broad skull with large, rounded ears, which provide enhanced hearing in an area with scarce prey. Low-set ears are often completely flattened in an ‘aggressive’ posture, an adaptation to hunting in areas with little cover. They are protected from the hot sand by hair on the black soles of the feet. Learn more
Wild cats don’t have nine lives – their conservation begins with you!
100% of donations are sent directly to small wild cat conservation programs around the world.
Wildlife habitat is rapidly disappearing all over the world. Persecution, the bush meat trade, poisoning and the Asian medicine trade are also taking their toll on small wild cats. Field researchers are learning what these little cats need to survive, but equipment is costly, and they need your help. The African Golden Cat is one of the small cat species in need of your help.
The African Golden Cat Profelis aurata remains an enigma in the cat world. About twice the size of a domestic cat, they are very sturdy, powerful animals, with stout, relatively short legs and large paws. There are two colour phases: chestnut-red/fawn and silvery/dark slate-grey, of which the grey phase is often called the silver cat. Both red and grey phases occur in the same areas, and a few melanistic specimens have been recorded. Learn more
We report here that all three species of the caracal lineage were recorded in the same areas of the Chinko/Mbari drainage basin of eastern Central African Republic. Using camera traps we recorded African golden cat three times at one site, 190 km north of its recognized range. The caracal was recorded once, 250 km south of its recognized range and 7 km from where the golden cat was recorded. Finally, the serval was recorded on 12 events, 4 km from where the golden cat was recorded. The indication of this sympatric presence of all three species of the caracal lineage has not been reported for many (if any) areas in Africa and is worthy of further investigation.
These findings are remarkable. The occurrence of golden cat in the highly fragmented savannah/rainforest patch at that latitude was unexpected. Given that the golden cat is known as a forest and deep forest dweller, one would expect to see it 200 km away in the contiguious lowland forest. The fact that we detected serval 4 km away and caracal 7 km away from the site of the golden cat captures show that all three species occur within close range of each other.
African golden cat recorded by camera trap in the Chinko/Mbari basin, CAR in the early morning.
According to known species ranges, there are very few areas that actually indicate a possibly sympatric presence of all three species, and we believe this to be the first documentation of such an occurrence.
Surprisingly, our camera traps did not record a single African wild cat Felis silvestris, nor did we see tracks on this species on the line transects. Additionally, safari hunting staff operating in this area since 2007 have failed to record this small cat in the area. According to published distribution maps, we would expect to find this fourth member of the African small cats in the Chinko/Mbari drainage basin.
Serval recorded by camera trap in the Chinko/Mbari basin at 03:00 hr.
Because of this curious finding, we plan to publish a comprehensive analysis of all predator events the camera traps recorded in 2012 and more findings on occurrence, abundance and habitat preference of species from the caracal lineage as soon as possible. We will continue to generate and share relevant data in the coming years of research and conservation work in the Chinko/Mbari drainage basin.
Male caracal recorded by camera trap in a semo-open savannah patch
Pressure on this important area is expected to increase with poaching, land use changes, and political unknowns, underlining the need to understand this unique habitat and its functioning to prepare for future precautions.
ISEC Canada member Phil Perry was fortunate to watch this beautiful Serval hunting. It managed to catch three rodents in half an hour. Photo taken in the Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa.
These long-legged cats are found in well-watered savannah grass habitats of sub Saharan Africa. The serval specializes in small mammals, with 90% of their diet weighing less than 200 grams. They have a characteristic high pounce when hunting which can reach heights of up to two meters high and 4 metres long.
One study found they have a hunting success rate of 49% in almost 2000 pounces. They killed 15-16 times in 24 hours, making 0.8 kills per hour.
That’s a lot of rodents that could have been destroying crops or invading villages. Another very important reason to protect small wild cats!
The Caracal Project in Namibia began in January 2011 and continues to expand. They are collecting ecological data on caracals at a large scale, and working with livestock farmers to mitigate conflicts with caracals and other predators. This is essential because caracals are the most persecuted cat in Africa, yet no country has a population estimate based on scientific data.
They are finding that more and more livestock farmers, those who have always killed caracals, are willing to allow the cats to be released back onto their farms as long as they are radio collared and the farmers are kept involved in our research. This is a vital aspect to changing farmer perceptions regarding caracals and other predators.
Update March 2012
I just wanted to send you an update that on The Caracal Project another caracal has been shot by a livestock farmer- a young male (above) whose range encompassed private and communal sheep farms. He lived on these farms for over 18 months without any documented predation on livestock. We are disappointed but appreciate being told by the farmer. Radio collars on three other caracals continue to collect data.
Hope all is better for you and I am sorry to share this bad news but it shows why this research is important. Thanks again for all your support and everything you do to save wild cats!
Aletris M. Neils
Executive Director
Conservation CATalyst
