A young male caracal has arrived safely at our AAP Spain rescue centre, following a 16-day journey through the fields of Cádiz. SEPRONA (the Spanish Nature Protection Service) and the Animal Rescue Brigade of Sanlúcar de Barrameda succesfully captured the caracal – now named Sorgo – using trap cages and tracking cameras.
Illegal Possession
Authorities confiscated Sorgo because the animal was found abandoned. Furthermore, a caracal is potentially dangerous and Sorgo’s owner was unknown. The case is now under investigation. However, everything points to the caracal having escaped from a private home. Possession of a caracal is prohibited under Spanish law, which bans the keeping of primates and wild mammals over 5 kg until the Positive List of mammals comes into effect.Roaming for 16 days
Sorgo was first seen on 14 July, when workers in the area saw the feline in the middle of a road at dawn. It was immediately identified from the images as a caracal, a wild African mammal, and a search and capture operation was launched. The operation was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Sanlúcar Animal Brigade, local residents and workers, the Sanlúcar de Barrameda Town Council, and the SEPRONA in Jerez de la Frontera.
Safe at AAP
Sorgo arrived at AAP Spain on 31 July and is now in quarantine, where he is undergoing veterinary checks and receives the appropriate care. His diet is being tailored to his needs, and he is being provided with enrichment to help him recover and express his natural behaviours.
