Serval

Overview
The serval is a slender wild cat known for its long legs and distinctive golden-brown coat, covered with black spots and stripes. Standing around 20 inches at the shoulder, it has a small, long head and large, rounded ears with black and white stripes. These ear markings are believed to be used for communication.

Servals have a varied diet, primarily consisting of rodents like vlei rats, along with birds, frogs, insects, small reptiles, and fish. Kittens, born in litters of three to four, are raised by their mother in thick grass or underbrush. The mother is solitary and typically raises her young alone, only leaving to hunt.

Primarily nocturnal, servals hunt using their keen hearing and excellent eyesight. They often leap to pounce on prey, sometimes playing with it before eating. Servals are solitary, with males covering larger territories than females, and they use scent marking for communication.

Found in moist, tall grasslands near wetlands, servals are elusive and shy, with a patchy distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, including parts of South Africa. Although classified as “rare” in South Africa, servals are generally widespread and adapt well to their environment.