Savannahs of Malenga

The Serval

Der Serval - The Serval
The African Serval
(Leptailurus serval)
Body lenght: 75-100cm
Hights of shoulders: up to 60cm
Weight: 7-18 kg
Territory: up to 10 km²

The Serval in wildlife
Its preferred habitat is the tall grass of the opened Savannah as well as the periphery of swamps and lakes south of the Sahara. The body of the Serval is very skinny and appears with its long legs very elegant.

The skin color is usually brown yellowish with black and brown spots. The color can be missing completely except of little rests around the eyes. However the short and compact coat varies in its coloring a lot, so that they presumed different species until they discovered different variants in one litter. Since the coat of a Serval is very valuable they are hunted extensively. Although he is not actually threatened with extinction the amount of animals is constantly going down due to the hunting. The Serval lives outside the mating season usually as a loner. Remarkable are the extreme big ears of the Serval. For hunting the Serval prefers high grass and undergrowth. The less he can be seen doing it the more comfortable he feels. Depending on the type of cat the Serval usually creeps on up to a few meters to its prey to reach them with a huge jump. The prey of the animals includes small rodents, lizards, but also small or young antelopes.

The Serval in captivity
The Serval is a wild animal and is not a very good pet. It will be up to 20 years old in captivity and needs a zoo like enclosure with an inside and outside area that offers them enough space to run and climb. Also, water should be available where the Serval can swim and dive. The wild cat will take every opportunity to escape and will not return voluntary.

The Serval needs a special diet with vitamin additions and a very special healthcare. Even if raised by hand and tamed the Serval remains a wild animal and will never be a “cuddle cat”.