Caracal (Henotaro) Breeding And Conservation Center:
The Gujarat government has announced the establishment of a Caracal (Henotaro) Breeding and Conservation Center in the Chadva Rakhal region of Kutch, with a budget allocation of ₹10 crore.
- Caracal is an elusive, primarily nocturnal animal which has traditionally been valued for its litheness and extraordinary ability to catch birds in flight.
- In India, it is called siya gosh, a Persian name that translates as ‘black Ear’.
- They typically use abandoned porcupine burrows and rock crevices for maternal dens but can be found with their young in dense vegetation.
- They live in small herds and their shy and elusive nature makes them difficult to spot in the wild.
- They live in woodlands, savannahs and in scrub forests.
- The most suitable habitat for caracals in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh is located in Kutch, the Malwa Plateau, the Aravalli hill range and the Bundelkhand region,
- It is found in several dozen countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia.
- Large-scale hunting, illegal trading and loss of natural habitats are considered significant threats to the species.
- Conservation status IUCN: Least concern
- The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
