A fortunate observer, Brian van der Leer, had a remarkable encounter with a female caracal and her kitten near Maclear Beach, Cape Point. The mother, distinguishable by her one blind eye, appeared to be thriving next to her fluffy kitten.
Caracals often referred to as African lynxes due to their striking tufted ears, lead fascinating lives. One interesting tidbit about these creatures is their weaning process.
Caracal kittens typically nurse for about 4 to 6 months, just before their adult teeth appear. However, they remain with their mothers for nearly a year, learning essential survival skills before setting off to establish their own territories.
Encounters like this remind us of the incredible wildlife that shares our surroundings. Help support Cape Town’s diverse wildlife, including caracals, through research and education with the dedicated team at the Urban Caracal Project.
This story was originally published on CapetownETC
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