Caracals are medium-sized wild cats found across Africa and Asia. Their adaptability makes them resilient but also brings them into conflict with farmers, resulting in significant welfare harms.
Caracal welfare is dominated by lethal control in response to livestock predation — a cycle that kills thousands of animals annually in South Africa alone and affects broader carnivore community dynamics. The killing methods include trapping, poisoning, and shooting — many of which are associated with prolonged suffering. The ecological and welfare argument against lethal control is strong: caracal populations recover quickly through compensation breeding, meaning culling has no long-term effect on livestock predation while killing thousands of animals with welfare harms. Non-lethal approaches — livestock guardian dogs, predator-proof kraals, and range riders — address the root cause more effectively and sustainably. Caracals kept as exotic pets face welfare harms from inadequate environments: their spatial, dietary, and behavioural needs cannot be met domestically.