Jaipur: Rajasthan has strengthened its position as India’s last major stronghold for the elusive caracal after a camera trap captured two of the endangered wild cats together at an undisclosed location in the state, giving a boost to the ongoing Project Caracal conservation programme.The photograph, recorded by the forest department at 9.20 am on July 26, is being seen as a significant milestone for Project Caracal, India’s first dedicated initiative to conserve the species. Officials have withheld the exact location to prevent disturbance to the animals.“The sighting is particularly significant as caracals are rarely photographed in the wild, and images of two individuals together are even more uncommon,” a senior forest official said.Wildlife experts believe Rajasthan supports India’s largest remaining population of the species, making the state crucial to its long-term survival. Once found across 14 states, the caracal is now restricted to three landscapes in the country — Kutch in Gujarat, the Greater Ranthambhore landscape and Desert National Park in Rajasthan.Recent records from Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Bandh Baretha and Jaisalmer indicate that the species continues to survive across multiple habitats in Rajasthan, including the Thar desert. Conservation efforts are also expected to strengthen its presence in Dholpur and Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary.“Recent records from Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bandh Baretha demonstrate that the caracal still persists across Rajasthan. The priority now is to scientifically estimate its population and secure these habitats through targeted conservation measures,” a wildlife expert said.The caracal has suffered one of the sharpest range contractions among India’s wild cats. Its historical distribution has declined from an estimated 7,93,927 sq km before 1947 to just 16,709 sq km — barely 2.17% of its former range.“Through research, it is important to determine its population and density to develop a conservation action plan in Rajasthan, which is believed to hold the country’s largest remaining population,” an expert said.
