MEDIUM-SIZED WILDCAT CLASSIFIED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

MEDIUM-SIZED WILDCAT CLASSIFIED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Context

The National Board for Wildlife and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has classified the medium-sized wildcat, found in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan as critically endangered.

Details

• The caracal has been valued traditionally for its gracefulness and ability to catch birds in flight.
• In India, the animal is on the verge of extinction.
• Caracal was a favorite hunting animal during the medieval Indian era.
• Habitat: In India, presence of these Cats has been reported from only three states which are Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• In Madhya Pradesh it is locally called as Shea-gosh or siyah-gush.
• In Gujarat, Caracals are locally referred to as Hornotro which means killer of a Blackbuck.
• In Rajasthan it is known as Junglee Bilao or Wildcat.