Caracal

This caracal only has 3 months, that's why I was so close to him.

The word caracal is derived from the Turkish words kara kulak, which means "black ear".

The caracal, also known as the desert lynx, is a wild cat that is widely distributed across Africa, central Asia and southwest Asia into India.

The caracal has been classified variously with Lynx and Felis in the past, but molecular evidence supports a monophyletic genus that is closely allied with the African golden cat and serval.

Caracals appear to have held some religious significance for the ancient Egyptians. Caracals were found in wall paintings, their bodies embalmed, and sculptures of caracals and other cats guarded tombs.

Historically, caracals have been used in India for the purpose of hunting and blood sports. A popular sport in India was to have a captive caracal set upon a flock of pigeons, whereupon bets were made on how many birds could be taken down by the cat. A practised caracal could ground as many as a dozen birds. Today, as well as in the past, caracals have occasionally been kept as exotic pets in Africa, India, North America and elsewhere.