If the caracal hunts someone’s goat, the department will give a goat from the Goat Bank as compensation.
To save the rare wildlife Caracal Cat (Siyagosh) in Jaisalmer, the Forest Department is going to start the state’s first ‘Goat Bank’. This step has been taken after the heart-wrenching incident that took place in March 2026, in which villagers killed 50 of their goats.
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The objective of this project, prepared in collaboration with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), is to stop ‘revenge killing’. Now if the caracal kills someone’s goat, the department will hand over the new goat to the herder directly from the goat bank instead of paperwork for compensation.
In March, villagers had killed and burnt the caracal cat on suspicion of hunting goats.
Caracal burnt in exchange of 50 goats In March 2026, a burnt caracal was found in the border area of Jaisalmer. The villagers had also made the video viral. During interrogation it was revealed that Caracal had killed about 50 goats of the villagers. The angry villagers followed the footprints and cornered the caracal and killed it. There are now only 50 caracals left in India, out of which only a family of 4 has been confirmed in Jaisalmer.
The forest department had arrested two accused for killing and burning the caracal. A case was also registered against him under the Forest Conservation Act.
How will ‘Goat Bank’ work?
6 month survey: WTI team will come to Jaisalmer at the end of May. In the next 6 months, there will be mapping of those areas where caracal and humans are face to face.
Stock of 25 goats: Initially 25 goats will be kept in a bank.
Immediate compensation: As soon as the poaching is confirmed, the department will give the goat of the same age and health to the cattle rearer.
Sustainable Model: In future, a rule may be made that the villager getting help from the bank will have to donate one kid of his goat to the bank, so that the stock is maintained.
There is also a plan to start a research center in Sawai Madhopur for the conservation of caracal.
Why is this initiative necessary?
Jaisalmer’s DFO Shubham Kumar says- Our target is to minimize the conflict between humans and caracal. Their presence in the border areas is a matter of pride for our ecosystem. We want the villagers not to consider them as enemies. The caracal is a shy but extremely agile hunter. When a poor cattle farmer’s cattle dies, he suffers financial loss. The idea of ’Goat Bank’ has come to end this bitterness. When the villager knows that the damage will be compensated immediately, he will not attack the wildlife.
The caracal is on the verge of extinction. Therefore, the Forest Department is making efforts to conserve them.
Caracal…Tufts of black hair on the ears give different identity
Population: Only 50 in entire India.
Speciality: Expert in jumping high and catching birds in the air.
Protection : There is a plan to build a research center for them in Sawai Madhopur also. The border area of Jaisalmer is considered their safe haven.
Action taken so far: The Forest Department has arrested two accused in the March incident and sent them to jail under the Wildlife Protection Act. The department’s goal is now conservation not through fear, but through empathy.
Good number of caracal cats in the border area
DFO Shubham Kumar says- It has become completely clear from the field survey that there is a good presence of Caracal Cat in the border areas located near the India-Pakistan border. Now the central and state governments are paying special attention to their conservation. Caracal is among those creatures which are on the verge of extinction. In such a situation, their safety has now become the top priority of the Forest Department.
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Also read these news related to Caracal…
1- Rare cat was killed and burnt in Jaisalmer: Video was made and posted on social media; Half-burnt body recovered, 3 arrested
Rare cat Caracal killed and burnt in Jaisalmer. The accused made a video of this and posted it on social media. (Read full news)
2- The secrets of the rare cat that jumps 11 feet high will be revealed: Research will be done on ‘Caracal’ in 4 tiger reserves of Rajasthan, the exact number will be known.
Along with tigers, the focus is now on the conservation of ‘small cats’ in the forests of Rajasthan. (Read full news)
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