Hermes walks a “tightrope” near Kloof Nek in August 2020. He is our most-sighted caracal, recognizable by his pale colored ear tags.

Hermes walks a “tightrope” near Kloof Nek in August 2020. He is our most-sighted caracal, recognizable by his pale colored ear tags.

Protecting biodiversity through research and conservation.

The Urban Caracal Project is a project of the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild) at the University of Cape Town. Key collaborators also include South Africa National Parks, Universities of California (Santa Cruz and Los Angeles), the City of Cape Town, and private landowners in Cape Town.  

Amazing illustration by Amy Novella.

Amazing illustration by Amy Novella.

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View fullsize We have lost an icon.   The Urban Caracal Project is heartbroken to report that our 33rd tagged caracal on the project, Hermes, was hit by a car early on Tuesday morning.   He was hit on Philip Kgosana Drive, one of the main arterial roads
View fullsize 🆕📄Just out! New research shows Cape Town's caracals have metal pollutants in their blood🩸☣️ including heavy metals and metalloids, such as arsenic, mercury and lead. Caracals using areas closer to people and roads had higher levels, as well as tho
View fullsize Colour matching 101 😻 This gorgeous photo of a caracal was taken in #CeciliaForest near Rhodes Drive. Amazing how the caracal’s coat matches the dried bracken and pine needles! It’s easy to see why the Afrikaans name for the caracal is
View fullsize More cool camera trap images taken near University of Cape Town! 😺 These images were taken as part of part of the Khusela Ikamva Sustainable Campus project. The camera trap grid is placed along a gradient of urbanization, from campus up into the Ta
View fullsize Perfect camo 😻 This young caracal was spotted by several fishermen while moving along the rocky coastline at Rooikranz, #CapePoint recently. It is amazing how closely it’s coat matches the colour of the rocks. 📸 Thanks to Warren van Reenen
View fullsize A lucky sighting! 😸 This #caracal was spotted by Christo Giles over the weekend. He says “It was very exciting to see it and get pictures. I was driving on my way to Cape Point early on Sunday morning and it crossed the road 50 metres in fron
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View fullsize Starting the new year with these beautiful photos by @millionmemo of a young caracal on a Constantia greenbelt 🐱🌱 Green space is vital for caracals! Greenbelts like these through developed areas are popular recreational areas for people, but are a
View fullsize Spotted! TMC33 #HermesTheCaracal and a friend… Thanks to Pierre Blignaut for reporting this special sighting to us! He says “…they were a real treat and not eager to run away. Almost like they had something or some reason to loi
View fullsize Caracal spotted outside Scarborough 😺 Ricki Fransman writes “I took my daughter for an early evening drive today and as we were about to enter Scarborough, spotted this magnificent Caracal at the foot of the mountain a few meters from the ro
View fullsize Caracal in the bluegums on the city side of Signal Hill, Cape Town ⛰️🏙️ Caracals will climb trees to escape from danger, such as from people or their dogs. They have also been reported to cache their prey in trees like leopards, although this is no
View fullsize What is an “umbrella species”? ☂️ An umbrella species is characterised by habitat requirements that encompass those of many other species too, meaning that if that species is successfully conserved, then so are many others. Caracals on