First record of African wildcat (Felis lybica cafra) preying on a small antelope, the Damara dik-dik (Madoqua damarensis)

Abstract

The diet and foraging behaviour of carnivores are closely linked to their role in ecosystems. The African wildcat (Felis lybica) is a highly adaptable small carnivore that is widespread and common but rarely studied. The diet of this solitary felid has been reported to consist mainly of small rodents with the largest recorded prey being the springhare (Pedetes capensis). Here, we present the first photographic evidence of African wildcat predation on a small antelope, the Damara dik-dik (Madoqua damarensis). This observation expands the known prey spectrum of the species and demonstrates its behavioural flexibility in hunting small ungulate prey.