Two Caracal kittens have been spotted at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, and we are over the moon with excitement!
Cape Town, South Africa (27 September 2021) – The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens shared the exciting news that two caracal kittens have been spotted. They shared the news along with some adorable photos.
The Caracal is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. The mammal is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears and long canine teeth.
Typically nocturnal, the Caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. They are territorial and live mainly alone.
“In Cape Town, caracals are important “umbrella species” because they need large, wild spaces and access to prey resources, so anything we do to conserve them also conserves many other species. We live in an amazingly biodiverse city; let’s do what we can to coexist with the wildlife we still have!” – Urban Caracal Project
Seeing the kittens is such a treat, considering how reclusive the species is. If you find yourself at the larger national parks around South Africa, you may be pressed to spot one of these stunning animals. However, they are more commonly seen at the smaller parks.
The Table Mountain area is a popular spot to see them. If you are interested in helping people protect them, you can find out more about them at the Urban Caracal Project.
“While some wildlife photographers are keen to get “close up” shots of them, we urge people to remain respectful of their space – and that of any wildlife they encounter. We recommend staying *at least* 25m away and keeping as quiet as possible.
Mother caracals raise their kittens alone, and often have to leave their young for periods while they hunt. This mother may have decided that Kirstenbosch is a safe place to leave her kittens – and we’d like everyone to help keep it that way.
If you see anyone disturbing or getting too close to these kittens, please alert:
Elton le Roux – Kirstenbosch Estate Manager 021-799 8761 or
Werner Voigt – Kirstenbosch Garden Curator 021-799 8759 or
Kirstenbosch Infomation line 021-799 8783″Related Story
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