Research Project of Serval

Sakura Schweizer, Alice Medrano, Mason Ellis

IntroductionThe Serval is a type of wild cat that is

found in Africa. It is known to have the longest legs out of the cat species. There are rare types of Servals as well as common ones, that can be seen at many zoos. Servals are known to jump very high, up to 13 feet. Servals are also carnivores, meaning its diet consists of only meat. Although Servals are wild cats, many people buy them as pets, and create strong bonds with them.

Habitat (S.S) Servals live “throughout sub-Saharan Africa, lives mainly in thickly covered areas close to water.” (Zooborn, 2013).This quote is explaining how Servals are found in the Sub-Saharan and usually hide in thickly covered areas.

Servals “...can tolerate cold, with frost and snow.”(SandiegoZoo.com 2011)This quote explain how Servals are very good at adapting to the cold, and tolerating changes in temperature.

“Servals tolerate agricultural development that encourages rodent populations, as long as enough water and refuge is available.” (Servals.org, 2011)This quote further elaborates how Servals have very good adapting skills.

Diet(M.E)“The typical diet consists of rodents, insects and small birds caught in mid-air.” (http:

//www.servals.org/wild.htm)

This quote is saying that the serval’s diet mainly consists of small mammals and birds. Birds and field mice are some of the serval’s favorite prey.

Servals as Pets(A.M)The serval is known all around for being one of the only

wild cats that can be almost completely domesticated. “They purr loudly and will often give head-butts to display their fondness for their humans.” (hilltoppride.com) Even though Servals seem to be social, and great as pets, there are people that disagree. “They are wild and will never be completely tame, even if hand-raised from infancy,”(Animals pawnation.com)

They have never been reported to have hurt someone in their own home. “Many states require a permit and have guidelines for the size and type of cage that they need.”(A1savannas.com)

ConclusionServals are extremely unique cats each one with it’s own habitat and character. They vary from being fierce and quick hunters prowling around the Sub-Sahara to cuddly, loyal pets living in residences. The serval is unlike any other cat with its record long legs, superb hunting skills, and it’s love of water, and ability to be a dependable companion. They are great at adapting to changes in their habitat and that is one of the key things that makes them good pets. They do a good job at adapting to the live of a regular house cat. They make great pets, but there will always be a few wild traits that you just can’t tame. For example they are nocturnal so they tend to sleep during the day, they are also carnivores so they only eat meat and are always on the lookout for a good hunt.

Reflection Sakura Schweizer: I thought that this was an interesting project. I learned a lot about an animal that I have never even heard of. I thought that the Serval was a very interesting and unique animal.

Alice Medrano: I loved this project. I’ve always wanted to get to know more about the serval and I feel like I finally have. i’m very interested in these strange cats and am even a little bit interested in getting one some day.

Mason Ellis: I liked this project. It was a good way to learn about an animal that seemed cool, but I never knew anything about.

Sources cited:"Mammals|Servals." SanDiegoZoo Animals. 2013. SanDiego Zoo Global. . <http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/serval>."Meet Sheldon the Playful Serval Cub at Point Defiance Zoo." ZooBorns. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 2 July 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2013/07/meet-sheldon-the-playful-serval-cub-at-point-defiance-zoo.html>."Serval, Leptailurus Serval." SanDiego Zoo Global. N.p., Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/serval/serval.html>."Servals in the Wild." TSCO. TSCO, n.d. Web. <http://www.servals.org/wild.htm>."Serval." FCF. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.felineconservation.org/feline_species/serval.htm>."Servals as Pets." Hilltop Pride. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://www.hilltoppride.com/index.php/servals/servals-as-pets>.Rivera, Michelle A. "Can a Serval Be Kept as a Pet?" Pawnation. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://animals.pawnation.com/can-serval-kept-pet-1585.html>."About Servals." A1Savannas. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Aug. 2012. <http://www.a1savannahs.com/servals.htm>."Seval Enrichment." Honolulu Zoo Society. Association Of Zoos & Aquariums, 11 Oct. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2013. <http://www.honoluluzoo.org/support-the-zoo/enrichment/serval-fishing.html>.