Caracals are solitary, crepuscular hunters that face significant welfare challenges in zoo settings. Evidence-based enrichment programs help meet their behavioral and psychological needs.
Caracals are among the more challenging felids to maintain in zoo settings because their natural lifestyle — solitary, wide-ranging, and crepuscular — conflicts with typical zoo schedules and enclosure designs. Welfare assessments consistently identify boredom and inadequate social structure as key concerns. Unlike social felids, caracals should generally be housed alone or in compatible pairs, and forcing social contact can be highly stressful. Best-practice facilities provide large, vertically complex enclosures with multiple hiding spots that allow the animal to feel control over its environment. Rotating enrichment items prevents habituation, and feeding methods that require problem-solving or physical effort help maintain psychological engagement. Behavioral monitoring — tracking time spent in different activities and alertness levels — is essential to identify early welfare decline.