Sorcha

Sorcha, born in 2017 and a Safe Haven resident since 2018

HISTORY

Sorcha, was illegally imported from Africa along with a male Caracal, Hantara and two African Serval kittens Reina and Goya. The New York resident was selling them as pets, with as many as thirty kittens recently sold – their whereabouts unknown.

Unfortunately, both caracals and African servals are sold through the exotic pet trade and often surrendered by their owners or residing in substandard conditions. Most private owners are ill equipped to provide the housing, diet and veterinary care they require.

Both Sorcha and Hantara were housed with servals Reina and Goya and now all four now enjoy playing together and sharing their 5,000 sq-ft habitat.

ABOUT AFRICAN CARACALS

Caracals are medium size wild cats native to the dryer areas of Africa, Asia and India. They have very distinctive long tufted ears and reddish/tan coats. Like the African Servals, they have strong long back legs allowing them to jump over ten feet to catch birds, but small rodents and mammals are their primary source of food. Caracals generally live no more than twelve years in the wild but can live as long as seventeen years in captivity. Caracal vocalizations include purring and hissing but can sound also like a leopard when distressed. Caracals will twitch their tufted ears as a means of communicating to fellow caracals.