Servals
BEHAVIOR

Servals (scientific name: Leptailurus serval) are primarily solitary, living most of their lives alone. They can be extremely aggressive if provoked and will often use their fast paw strike to attack. They will also hiss, growl, and even bark when they are angry. Servals have large ears that allow them to hear mice underground.

COLOR PATTERN
  • Yellow fur with dark spots
  • Black tipped tail
  • White spots on the backs of their ears – a trait that all spotted wild cats have, which helps them communicate with their young

WHERE WE LIVE

Servals live in the savanna of Africa, among the tall grasses, always near a source of water. There have been a few melanistic (all black) servals seen in mountain areas or higher elevations.

WEIGHT
Serval 20-40 pounds

 

House Cat       12 pounds
LENGTH
Serval 23-39 inches long

 

A Man’s Stride
36 inches long
Bonus
Serval
A serval’s paw strike is faster than a cobra strike – 1/60 of a second

 

Cobra
A cobra can strike in 1/10 of a second
WHAT WE EAT

OBLIGATE CARNIVORE

  • Snakes
  • Rodents
  • Rabbits
  • Birds

Servals are a keystone species because they help keep the rodent populations in check.

 

THREATS

  • Habitat Loss
    Servals are losing a lot of their habitat to farming and urbanization.
  • Fur Trade
    Servals are killed for their pelt (skin and fur) and it is sold as cheetah pelt.
  • Retaliatory Killings
    Farmers will kill servals if they think they have taken their livestock.
  • Considered: Least Concern
Did you know…

A Serval’s Paw Strike is
1/60
of a Second!
Did you know…

A Serval eats up to
4,000
rodents in a single year!
Did you know…

Servals have a 
50%
hunting success rate!

About Carolina Tiger Rescue

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit wildlife sanctuary whose mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild.

Carolina Tiger Rescue

1940 Hanks Chapel Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312 (919) 542-4684 (919) 542-4454 info@carolinatigerrescue.org

Wildlife should be in the Wild

Rescue

Education

  • We believe the ideal home for wildlife is in the wild.
  • We believe it is critical to conserve their native habitats.
  • We believe wild animals should not be kept as pets.
  • We believe captive breeding should ONLY be done in accordance with Species Survival plans.
  • We believe all wild animals, both captive and in their native habitats, deserve to be treated with respect and not exploited for entertainment and commercial purposes.

Visit Carolina Tiger Rescue

Tiger at Carolina Tiger Rescue

Public Tours

Twilight Tours

Coming out for a tour is a great way to learn more about the animals that call Carolina Tiger Recue home. We offer many different types of tours.  Public tours are great for adults and families. Twilight tours are for adults only (18 years of age and older). Tiger Tales are a perfect option if you want to bring out really young children. Find the tour that is right for you and enjoy a walk through the sanctuary.

For all tours, tickets must be purchased in advance.