CARACAL

The Caracal (Caracal caracal), or the desert lynx, is a wild cat that resides in Africa, Asia and India. The word caracal is derived from the Turkish words “kara kulak”, which means “black ear.These cats are distinguished by their long tuft of hair on their ears while their coats are a light brown colour. There are also black Caracals. Caracals are solitary creatures but have been seen in pairs. They are the largest member of Africas small cats.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• In 1998, the caracal was hybridised with a domestic cat at the Moscow Zoo.
• Caracals appear to have held some religious significance for the ancient Egyptians.
• There have been paintings and sculptures of them.In Afrikaans it is called Rooikat which means “red cat”.
• Caracals have lived up to 19 years in captivity.

Taxidermy

Thorough preparation is the key factor to ensuring a high-quality final product. All hides are tanned and oiled using the world’s very best available chemicals and processes to ensure permanence and longevity.Forms are selected to ensure the best fit and posture will be altered to suit you, the client’s preference without additional cost. Natural habitat bases are custom-made for full mount trophies without additional cost.Only the finest materials and 40 years of professional experience are used in defining your trophies in a whole new way. The final trophies are almost Life-Formed. When the restoration is required, every effort is made to repair cuts and abrasions, and to minimise bullet damage. Natural scarring is kept unless otherwise requested.

Habitat

Caracals prefer to live in the drier Savannah and woodlands of Africa. They are not found in tropical rainforests. Their gestation period is 78-81 days and they have 2 kittens on average.They prey on quite a few different animals, most of them small, such as hares, rodents, birds and small antelope. They are quite vicious and will not hesitate to bring down animals bigger than themselves such as bigger antelope. They are nocturnal animals and prefer to hunt at night.

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Professional Caracal / Lynx taxidermy

The Caracal is a remarkable medium-sized cat with a muscular build, long powerful legs, huge paws, a short tail, and ear tips with long hair tufts. The caracal goes by several different names in its native South Africa, including “rooikat” and “lynx.” Caracals are easily recognised by their large, extravagantly tufted ears, which are pointed at the tip. Coat colours range from light sandy to reddish-fawn or light cinnamon to deep brownish-red, reddish-grey, or rich brick red (depending on geographic location). While at first glance they may appear to be a single hue, closer scrutiny reveals spectacular red spots on their white “bellies” and the presence of modest black and white patterning on their faces.

 

Hunting Caracal

Any trophy room would benefit from the inclusion of a caracal as a trophy. Chance plays a significant role in caracal hunting more frequently than not. Sometimes shining a floodlight on bait at night will bring results. You’ll need to be silent and calm when you shoot from a blind spot. Predator calls are another option that can be used to entice this wary cat to come out of hiding. Caracal can be hunted with hounds in various South African provinces.

Any centrefire rifle with a small enough calibre should be able to take care of this small cat. The .222 or .223 Remington is the way to go. The 22 Hornet would also do the job. If you want to save the fur, avoid using higher calibres with expanding rounds. Just as with shooting big cats, you want to aim just below the shoulder and slightly below the body’s midline.

 

What is Caracal Taxidermy?

As an art form, taxidermy involves preparing the skins of dead animals and birds and filling them with specific material to give the impression that they are still alive. In the past, taxidermy mounts were commonly filled with sawdust and rags. Over time, we have made tremendous strides in every one of our techniques, materials, and processes. The trophies we make today last 10 times as long as they did in the past due to developments in procedures like classic skin mounting, freeze-drying, reproduction, and re-creation mounting.

A successful caracal taxidermy project begins with meticulous planning. To ensure the hides survive for generations, we employ only the highest quality tanning chemicals and oiling techniques available. Here at Lifeform, we take great care in selecting our forms and will even modify their posture at no extra charge to ensure a perfect fit.

To give your trophies a new look, we use only the best materials and our 40 years of experience in the field. When repairs are needed, every effort is made to fix cuts and scrapes while keeping bullet damage to a minimum. Unless someone asks for them to be taken off, the animal’s natural scars will stay.

 

Skin preparation and storage tips for a flawless Caracal trophy

Before you bring your trophy to the taxidermist, make sure it is in good condition. In order to create mounts, taxidermists require measurements taken from the field. A photograph of the trophy is typically helpful.

As soon as your animal drops dead, the carcass will begin to decay, and the heat of Africa will hasten the process along. The hunter must not drag the carcass from the spot where it was shot to the waiting hunting truck. A substantial layer of freshly cut grass or dried leaves should be placed under the trophy before placing it in the heated metal bed of the hunting truck.

The skinning process must begin immediately to avoid any complications. Take off the skin and discard the meat, fat, filth, and blood underneath. Clean the skin the skin thoroughly. The skin is salted after a brief period of air drying. A salt solution should be used to soak the skin for at least five hours, preferably overnight. Salt the skin while it is still flat and flesh side up on a clean surface immediately after removing it from the solution. The benefits of the salt can only be realised if the salt is absorbed by the skin on a systemic level.

Dry the cape overnight. Dry with hair and ears in. Pesticides must be sprayed on skin and in storage to stop insect damage.

 

The Caracal taxidermy process and method

Considerations such as available funds, available wall space, and aesthetic preferences should all be taken into account when selecting a taxidermy caracal mount. We have found that the best outcomes are achieved by extensive conversation with the client while designing a full mount. This is because every single sample is arranged and shaped differently.

As soon as we have all of your mounting instructions, Life-Form Taxidermy will manufacture a custom made mannikin that will fit the skin best. All the skins are oiled and tanned using top-notch materials and techniques to ensure they last for years.

Each skin is tried on a manikin to see how well it fits. Afterwards, the skin is stitched by a specialist after the eyes and ears have been positioned correctly. The taxidermist waits until the animal is completely dry before making any final adjustments.

 

Taking care of your Caracal trophy

Ensure that your trophies are stored in a dry, cool environment. Sun daylight gradually fades the mounts, so rather us artificial light. Humidity can be reduced by letting in some fresh air or by using a fan. Because of the salt and tanning residue, hair can create moisture beads in high humidity. Soaking up the salts using a tissue that can also absorb water is a great idea.

Annually, use a soft brush or compressed air to dust the mounts and give the hair a nice, fluffy appearance. A regular aerosol surface pesticide should be sprayed in a fine mist around trophies to keep common pests at bay. Mount Medix Africa is a viable option for conserving your prized trophy. Life-Form Taxidermy stocks this item.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

How much does a Caracal trophy cost?

The pricing of any trophy is subject to the costing stipulated per taxidermy order, quantity of trophies and preferred mounting options, along with additional requirements. Should you wish to receive a quotation prior to the hunt, the taxidermist can generate such for you.

 

How long does a Caracal trophy take?

The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal might range from days to weeks, and possibly several months, depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display preferences, and volumes of client trophies to be produced, simultaneously, per production schedule.

Generally, the completion and packing timeframe combined, ranges from 8-12 months. This depends largely on the “what, how, when” factors. A taxidermy order also only becomes available for production scheduling upon receipt of the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions.

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