Estimating occupancy and abundance of caracal in a semi-arid habitat, Western India

We estimated the occupancy and abundance of caracal (Felis caracal) using camera traps in the core area of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), a semi-arid habitat, in Western India, from 2006 to 2009. Caracals were detected in 17 of 28 grids, yielding a naive occupancy estimate of 0.61. After accounting for imperfect detection (P = 0.17 ± 0.04 [SE]), the proportion of sites occupied (occupancy) was 87 %. Caracal abundance was ∼28.17 ± 3.02 individuals in the study area. Based on the total area available for caracals (588 km2), the average expected density was as 4.8 caracals per 100 km2. Information on caracal occupancy and abundance in the Indian sub-continent has not been documented or published, and this is the first attempt to estimate occupancy rates and the approximate population size of the caracal in RTR. Hence, our data should be used as baseline information for making future management and conservation strategies for the species in this and similar landscapes.