New paper published about Caracals in Israel
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Where do the caracals of the Negev and the Arava go, and what do they eat?
The caracal is an impressive predator with exceptional ecological flexibility. It can adapt its movement and diet to a wide range of habitats and thrives even in environments significantly altered by humans. Studies conducted in India, Iran, and South Africa have shown that caracals often live near roads, settlements, and agricultural areas, demonstrating an ability to adjust to human activity. However, very little has been known so far about the caracal population living in the Negev and Arava.
In this study, we aimed to understand:
Where do caracals prefer to stay?
What do they actually eat in the desert?
Has their distribution changed over the years?
To address these questions, we combined tracking data from individuals captured and tagged in the 1980s in the Hatzeva, Ein Yahav, and Tzofar areas, scat analysis to understand diet, and long-term observations collected by rangers of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority across the Negev.
What did we find?
Movement patterns: Analysis of movement data from ten individuals revealed a clear pattern. Male home ranges were larger than those of females. Both sexes showed a strong preference for stream channels, likely because these provide two key advantages: a high concentration of prey—especially Cape hares—and shelter from the intense desert heat. At the same time, caracals displayed notable behavioral flexibility in relation to human activity: they avoided paved roads mostly during the dry season, showed seasonal variation in their use of dirt roads, and females were found closer to agricultural fields than males, particularly in the dry season.
Diet: Unlike findings from other populations worldwide, these desert caracals rely primarily on natural prey. Scat analysis showed a diet mainly based on Cape hares, rodents, and ground-dwelling birds such as the chukar partridge. Only 11.3% of samples contained remains from human-related sources—a much lower proportion than typically observed in populations living near settlements.
Distribution over time: Observation data from recent decades confirmed that the distribution patterns of caracals and Cape hares are closely linked, with both concentrated בעיקר near stream channels.
These findings suggest that caracals in southern Israel maintain their role as natural predators and do not depend on humans as a food source—even when living relatively close to settlements.
However, the movement data available were collected in the 1980s, and since then the Negev and Arava have undergone substantial changes. Expansion of settlements and agriculture may also affect caracals, and updated research is needed to assess these changes.
Stream channels—especially those within nature reserves—emerge as a key component for conserving the caracal and maintaining the desert ecosystem as a whole.
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