Servals, or Leptailurus serval, are wild cats found in African savannas with plenty of water. Although they can be found in high altitude bamboo thickets and moorlands, they prefer areas with tall grass, bush and dry reed beds near streams. Excluding the Sahara region, Central Equatorial Africa, and the very Southern part of the continent, Servals can be found in most areas of Africa. Serval is portuguese for wolf-deer.
Sometimes known as the giraffe cat due to their extra-long necks and legs, Servals are small and slender cats with long legs, a lean body, and a small head. As well as a short tail. Servals have a black-spotted tawny coat, although their bellies are white. Servals weigh 7 to 18 kilograms (15 to 40 pounds). When it comes to size, the males are larger than the females; Servals are 59 to 92 centimeters (23 to 36 inches). They are 45 to 60 centimeters (17 to 24 inches) tall at the shoulder. Despite having the largest ears of any cat, Servals only top at 18 kilograms (40 pounds). They live up to 20 years in captivity. The Servals main threats are Hyenas, Leopards, and Hunting Dogs. They have a carnivorous diet, eating animals such as birds, reptiles, frogs, crabs, and large insects. Servals wait and see while hunting their prey. It uses it’s large ears to listen for movement while it hides in the tall grass around dusk or dawn. When standing on it’s hind legs, a Serval can jump more 2.7 (9 feet).
Servals have a 70-79 day gestation period. Although Servals usually have 3 births per litter, they can have 1-5 births per litter. The newborns weigh about 227 to 255 grams (8 to 9 ounces) at birth. The young Servals mature around 18 to 24 months.
Servals are hunted by humans for their coats, which can be mistaken for Leopard or Cheetah skin. Many poachers market Serval hide as Cheetah or Leopard skin because it will fetch a high price on the black market. Servals are also hunted by humans because they sometimes have the tendency to attack poultry. Due to these huntings, Servals are hard to find in populated areas. Some solutions to these problems are (Each solution is directly copied from the original website):
Engage wildlife scouts-The African Wildlife Foundation works with communities who live in close quarters with wildlife and equips scouts with essential tools, such as Global Positioning System (GPS)-monitoring devices and vehicles. As a result, AWF is able to ensure enhanced protection of wildlife in these regions as well as provide additional employment opportunities to local communities.
Foster symbiosis between wildlife and people- AWF works with communities living in close proximity to wildlife to incentivize conservation. In exchange for refraining from retaliatory killing or killing for products, like fur, communities receive training in sustainable, and more productive, agriculture techniques that lead to enhanced food and economic security.
AWF, African Wildlife foundation is an amazing organization if you would like to help Servals or any African animals please go donate to them at http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/serval.
Sources:
Foundation, African Wildlife. "Serval." African Wildlife Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.
"Serval." Serval | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.
Tsco. "African Servals, The Little Cats Of Africa, Servals In The Wild." African Servals, The Little Cats Of Africa, Servals In The Wild. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.
Sometimes known as the giraffe cat due to their extra-long necks and legs, Servals are small and slender cats with long legs, a lean body, and a small head. As well as a short tail. Servals have a black-spotted tawny coat, although their bellies are white. Servals weigh 7 to 18 kilograms (15 to 40 pounds). When it comes to size, the males are larger than the females; Servals are 59 to 92 centimeters (23 to 36 inches). They are 45 to 60 centimeters (17 to 24 inches) tall at the shoulder. Despite having the largest ears of any cat, Servals only top at 18 kilograms (40 pounds). They live up to 20 years in captivity. The Servals main threats are Hyenas, Leopards, and Hunting Dogs. They have a carnivorous diet, eating animals such as birds, reptiles, frogs, crabs, and large insects. Servals wait and see while hunting their prey. It uses it’s large ears to listen for movement while it hides in the tall grass around dusk or dawn. When standing on it’s hind legs, a Serval can jump more 2.7 (9 feet).
Servals have a 70-79 day gestation period. Although Servals usually have 3 births per litter, they can have 1-5 births per litter. The newborns weigh about 227 to 255 grams (8 to 9 ounces) at birth. The young Servals mature around 18 to 24 months.
Servals are hunted by humans for their coats, which can be mistaken for Leopard or Cheetah skin. Many poachers market Serval hide as Cheetah or Leopard skin because it will fetch a high price on the black market. Servals are also hunted by humans because they sometimes have the tendency to attack poultry. Due to these huntings, Servals are hard to find in populated areas. Some solutions to these problems are (Each solution is directly copied from the original website):
Engage wildlife scouts-The African Wildlife Foundation works with communities who live in close quarters with wildlife and equips scouts with essential tools, such as Global Positioning System (GPS)-monitoring devices and vehicles. As a result, AWF is able to ensure enhanced protection of wildlife in these regions as well as provide additional employment opportunities to local communities.
Foster symbiosis between wildlife and people- AWF works with communities living in close proximity to wildlife to incentivize conservation. In exchange for refraining from retaliatory killing or killing for products, like fur, communities receive training in sustainable, and more productive, agriculture techniques that lead to enhanced food and economic security.
AWF, African Wildlife foundation is an amazing organization if you would like to help Servals or any African animals please go donate to them at http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/serval.
Sources:
Foundation, African Wildlife. "Serval." African Wildlife Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.
"Serval." Serval | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.
Tsco. "African Servals, The Little Cats Of Africa, Servals In The Wild." African Servals, The Little Cats Of Africa, Servals In The Wild. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.