The prey and predator – the dassie brood are skittish at the moment; they make a very tasty snack for the caracal. Our neighbours have sighted a caracal (rooikat or lynx) in their garden. At the slightest of disturbance our resident dassies are quick to take cover between the rocks. The rooikat likes to hunt at dawn or dusk, but occasionally we get glimpses during the day. Probably 50% or last year’s dassie brood have survived; this year at this point there are about 15 babies in the colony. The Rooikat (Caracal caracal) is a well-built animal with strong legs, remarkably large paws and a relatively short tail. It is elusive and shy and not easily spotted. The photo above was taken by a friend on a hike in the West Coast Coastal Park.
Nature on the Edge 
The caracal is beautiful and maybe has babies somewhere but I do hope the dassies make it.
Marvelous photos! I knew nothing about these creatures. Pleased to get a look and a little information about them. Thank you!
Thanks for your interest in this neck of the woods 🙂
Fascinating story and excellent photos. Love the 6-pack. Are Dassies members of the rodent family?
They’re rather unique in that they belong to the same family line as the elephant and manatee. Quite something to imagine their divergent evolutionary paths.
Wonderful that you are constantly expanding my knowledge of the animal kingdom with pictures of species I have never encountered before!
: )
I am super envious Liz, wish I could boast about a rooikat in the neighbourhood!
🙂 sometimes it feels a bit like being besides a watering hole watching the comings and goings of our wildlife neighbours … we’re lucky! There are rumours too, that there a cape leopard roaming on our back mountain… that would be something if it can be verified 🙂
The Lynx looks so elegant and beautiful, a great shot by your friend, Liz. Lucky you to have met a sixpack of small dassies! Their expressions put a big smile on my face this morning, thank you! 🙂
Have a wonderful day. Love, Dina
Hi Dina, yes, they’re smart little characters, our dassies. They’re one of the animal hierachies to have a lookout on watch … any danger and they go mad with their alarm calls. Hope all’s well your end, and not too cold 🙂
very interesting I didn’t know the dassi Marvellous photos.Thanks for sharing.
Hi D. Thanks for your interest 🙂 It’s always great to read your comments…. the dassies are quite unique 🙂
Beautiful creatures. It must be an amazing experience to live in such proximity to nature. As always, very interesting information, Liz:)
It continues to be an ever enchanting saga watching the action unfold. There’s a balance though – it can be pretty brutal for the prey. Thanks, as always for your comments, Uday :).