Turkmenistan's Camera Trap Reveals Rare Caracal Kitten Sighting

A caracal kitten, belonging to a rare and endangered species, has been recently recorded on a camera trap near Turkmenistan’s Garabogazköl Bay, offering a significant indication of the species’ continued presence in the region.

The network of camera traps responsible for this discovery was established through a collaborative effort between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Bars Turkmenistan, a nature conservation organization affiliated with Conservation X Labs, The Caspian Post reports via Turkmen media.

Classified as endangered within Turkmenistan, the caracal population was estimated at 300-400 individuals as of 2000, according to the 2011 edition of the Red Book of Turkmenistan. Since then, no major changes in population size have been documented.

The caracal’s habitat spans across all regions of the country, with the species most frequently found in saxaul thickets, cherkez, pistachio woodlands, river valleys, and stabilized sandy areas. It typically avoids open plains that lack vegetation.

The capture of a kitten on the camera trap is a rare and valuable confirmation of the ongoing survival and reproduction of the caracal population in Turkmenistan.