Caracal hunts mainly at night, but some species living in Asia can also be active during the day. The sight and hearing of the caracals are excellent, so they can quietly track down their victims. When a prey is discovered, the caracal attacks with lightning speed.
Although the steppe lynx has well developed legs, it is unable to pursue prey for a long time, so it hunts from ambush. Caracals attack rabbits, rodents, birds, hedgehogs, porcupines, monkeys, small antelopes, mongooses, foxes and reptiles. Karakal is able to cope with prey, 2 times its size. Small animals caracal immediately kills a bite, and a large prey suffices for the throat and strangles.
Caracal even able to catch a bird in a jump. The hunting excitement of these predators is huge, they sometimes kill more prey than they can eat. Remains of food not eaten by caracal hides in a secluded place, and when hungry, returns to them and eats. If the stronger opponent tries to take away the food from the caracal, he will actively defend it, even jackals do not venture to compete with these cats.
On the steppe lynx attack hyenas and lions. With them, the caracals do not communicate and prefer to hide in flight, hiding in thick undergrowth. In some localities, people deliberately exterminate the steppe lynx, as they destroy livestock. Today, steppe lynxes are on the lists of protected species of animals. In the CIS countries, hunting for caracals is prohibited.
