One of the few animals still out and about during a rare 20 degree day at the Portland Zoo.
Caracals are from North Africa, Central and Southwest Asia.
This is Peggy. She was born at a feline conservation center in Mena, Ark., in October 2008. She is the first caracal to live at the Oregon Zoo. While most caracals are reddish brown in color, Peggy is fawn-colored with huge green eyes.
Caracals are nocturnal and solitary by nature. They hunt at night and will eat almost anything they can catch. They have even been known to attack sitting ostriches! These small, agile cats are known for their amazing jumping abilities, sometimes leaping as high as 10 feet off the ground. Caracals keep their claws sharp to help them capture their prey.
Each of the caracal's ears is controlled by about 20 muscles, helping this hunter better determine where prey is hiding! The long tufts of fur at the tip of each ear offer an added advantage in pinpointing prey.
