VulnerableLeopard
Panthera pardus
One of the 14 cats on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae
Caracal aurata
At high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term.
The African golden cat is one of the least known cats in the world. It lives in the forests of equatorial Africa, is strictly nocturnal and so elusive that most of what is known comes from camera traps set out over the last two decades. It is a medium-sized, stocky cat with relatively short legs and a small head, which hunts rodents, small duikers, monkeys and birds. Deforestation and snaring for bushmeat are its main threats.
Weight
5.5 kg – 16 kg
Size
60 cm – 1 m
Life expectancy
12 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracal_aurata
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 21.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with African Golden Cat — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
The african golden cat is classified as vulnerable. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 9 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Based on what we already know about african golden cat.
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The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
