Jaipur: In a bid to strengthen conservation of one of India’s least understood wild cats, “Project Caracal” was launched Wednesday in the Greater Ranthambhore landscape, marking the start of a structured 18-month effort to generate scientific data on the elusive predator across Rajasthan’s arid and semi-arid regions.The initiative aims to bridge long-standing knowledge gaps around the caracal, a shy and rarely sighted species known for its tufted ears and silent movement. Alongside the launch, a workshop on “Conservation of Caracal in Rajasthan” brought together researchers, field biologists and forest officials to assess existing data and chart future strategies.Field biologist Dharmendra Khandal highlighted key habitats where the species continues to survive. “In India, three places—Kutch in Gujarat, the Greater Ranthambhore landscape, and Desert National Park—have a good presence. Due to conservation efforts, a strong presence is also expected in Dholpur. In the last three months alone, camera traps have captured around 70 images of caracals,” he said.A major boost to the project comes from Tiger Watch, which has deployed 450 camera traps across the Ranthambhore landscape. These are expected to provide crucial insights into the species’ movement, behaviour and population trends—areas where scientific data has remained scarce for decades.Experts at the workshop noted that despite its historical range across India, the caracal now survives in fragmented pockets and faces multiple pressures. Its secretive nature has further complicated monitoring efforts, making systematic research both essential and challenging.The project was conceptualised by Arijeet Banerjee and will be led by Dr Shomita Mukherjee of the Wildlife Institute of India–SACON. Co-leads include Dr Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch and Dr Ayan Sadhu, associated with the National Tiger Conservation Authority and WII.Senior forest officials, including Dr G S Bhardwaj and K C A Arun Prasad, along with field directors from Ranthambhore, Ramgarh Vishdhari, Mukundra and Sariska, attended the launch, underlining institutional support.“Scientific research, field monitoring, community participation and institutional coordination are crucial. This project is expected to serve as a structured effort to secure the future of this rare predator,” said an official present during the workshop.
