Caracals face welfare challenges both in captivity and in the wild as human-wildlife conflict intensifies. Zoo management and conflict mitigation programs must address the needs of this powerful, solitary predator.
Caracal welfare in captivity is often inadequate because they are medium-sized cats that receive less welfare attention than lions or tigers but have similarly demanding needs for space, hunting stimulation, and environmental complexity. The caracal is powerful enough to kill prey much larger than itself and has strong hunting drive that is completely frustrated in small zoo exhibits. Stereotypic pacing, which is visible evidence of chronic frustration and poor welfare, is common in caracal enclosures that lack sufficient space and enrichment. In the wild, caracals are suffering significant persecution from farmers who lose livestock; non-lethal predator management including livestock guardian dogs and better kraaling practices offer welfare-compatible alternatives to lethal control.