A Risk Assessment for the Caracal, Caracal caracal has been conducted by the Department.
As a key component of risk assessment for import into Tasmania, conventional climate modelling was applied to compare the state’s environment with the species’ natural range CLIMATCH revealed “moderate” potential for suitable habitat across the entire state.
The risk assessment determined the Caracal as moderately dangerous to humans, having a moderate establishment risk and with a extreme consequence of establishment. It was therefore proposed the species be assigned to a extreme threat category.
Following the initial risk assessment, the Department may consider permitting the importation of animals assessed as ‘extreme risk’ into the State provided stringent mitigation measures can be identified and applied. Such measures would be enforced through an Exhibition Licence.
Mitigation options to reduce the risk associated with importing Caracal could include:
Reinforcing the Commonwealth position by limiting importation to registered wildlife parks or zoos to ensure the holding facility meets the stringent keeping standards Tasmania applies to all institutions.
Requiring any wildlife park or zoo to submit a Caracal Species Management Plan (including enclosure details) prior to import.
Requiring the wildlife exhibition facility to clearly demonstrate it has keepers proficient in the keeping of that particular species.
Limiting the import to a single sex of the species.
Caracal Risk Assessment (133Kb)