Kansas City Zoo welcomes a caracal, a species of cat

The newest resident of the Kansas City Zoo is either a master of camouflage or was not in the mood for the Sunday crowds.

A male cat called a caracal made his debut Thursday in an exhibit near the lions in the African section of the zoo. But a sign at his exhibit Sunday afternoon explained that the animal might not be out on display. A spokesperson for the zoo said because it is a new animal it may have retreated to its holding area.

It was a busy Sunday at the zoo, and many visitors searched for the newcomer before giving up and moving on.

Caracals are members of the cat family with tufted ears that can move independently. They are native to Africa, southwest Asia and the Middle East. They can grow to weigh 30-40 pounds.

The Kansas City Zoo’s caracal, named Nandi, was born in October at the Oregon Zoo.

Caracals are known to leap into the air to catch flying birds and are not daunted by bigger prey. According to a-z-animals.com, caracals are fast enough to outrun an ostrich and strong enough to kill it.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Kansas City Zoo welcomes a caracal, a species of cat."