Caracal: The newest exotic cat at Hamilton Zoo
Posted 15 March 2024
Hamilton Zoo’s newest arrival, Khafre.
Hamilton Zoo is excited to welcome a new species to the Zoo whaanau. Say hello to the Caracal, a stunning medium-sized cat with origins in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
These cats have a handsome appearance with reddish-brown coats and long black tufts at the tips of their ears. They can grow up to 50cm in shoulder height and 110cm in body length, and are known for their incredible jumping abilities - they can leap up to 3m into the air from a standstill!
Khafre settled in quickly to his new environment.
The newest addition to Hamilton Zoo is a two-year-old male named Khafre who arrived all the way from Queensland, Australia. After a brief quarantine period, he has now been moved into his new enclosure and is settling in well.
But if everything goes as planned, Khafre won't be the only Caracal at the Zoo! Hamilton Zoo is planning to introduce a female Caracal for breeding purposes. They're currently working with the regional species program to source an eligible female for import.
Khafre, Caracal, is now on display at Hamilton Zoo.
If you're eager to see this magnificent feline in person, you'll be happy to know that visitors can see him at Hamilton Zoo from Friday, 15 March.
Hamilton Zoo will also be providing updates on their social media pages, so make sure to follow them for more exciting news!
Caracal can now be seen at Hamilton Zoo.
Hamilton Zoo at Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct is open 9:30am - 4:30pm daily. Closed 25 December.
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