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NRLD - 263382 | Caracal aurata

Assessment ID
263382
Taxon name
Caracal aurata
Temminck, 1827
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Caracal aurata
Temminck, 1827
Common name(s)
African Golden Cat
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
carnivora
Family
felidae
Genus
Caracal
Species
aurata
Species authority
Temminck, 1827
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Felis
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Uganda
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Uganda
Country ISO code(s)
UGA
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Endangered
Abbreviated status
EN
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A2b
Criteria system used
IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
Only occasional camera trap photos have been recorded for Uganda in a few forest reserves. Data on populations largely lacking, but evidence of decline confirmed in Bwindi (B. Mugerwa, 2015) and few camera trap records noted in Maramagambo (D.R. Mills). Recent taxonomic review has placed in same genus as Caracal. Combined AOO less 1919km, but population estimates suggest upgrading. Population less threatened in Kibale despite snaring, possibly due to absence of leopards (D.R. Mills 2014). A forest/farmland overlap survey showed they do not leave the forest edge, even to travel down swamp/bush valleys. Uganda is probably one of the range states where the population has declined the most due to extensive forest clearing in the past and now largely confined to PA's. ANY change in poaching/logging levels or enforcement (will or capacity) could easily extirpate populations from the small refuges in which they currently persist.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2016
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Dr Robert Kityo; Sarah Prinsloo; Sam Ayebare; Dr Andrew Plumptre; Aggrey Rwetsiba; Waswa Sadic; Solomon Sebuliba; Herbert Tushabe
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
No
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Kasyoha Kitomi Forest Reserve, Maramagambo Forest Reserve, Echuya Forest Reserve
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Primary moist equatorial forest
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Habitat loss, forest degradation and bushmeat hunting (reduces prey available and is bycatch in Uganda confirmed from pictures and skeletons)
Publication
Behangana, M., Prinsloo, S., Plumptre, A., Tushabe, H., Ayebare, S., Sekisambu, R. and Conslate, A. 2016. Nationally Threatened Species for Uganda. WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society).