BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 26: A video game joystick lies next to an exhibit at the Computer Game Museum (Computerspielemuseum) on January 26, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. The museum, which opened January 21, traces the evloution of computer games through approximately 300 exhibits. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The caracal also known as the desert lynx, is a wild cat that is widely distributed across Africa, central Asia and southwest Asia into India. In 2002 the IUCN listed the caracal as Least Concern as it is widespread and relatively common. The felid is considered threatened in north Africa, and rare in the central Asian republics and India.