Serval
Hi! I’m a Serval
Built for height rather than speed, the serval is a tall, slender cat with the longest legs relative to body size of any cat species. When hunting, the Serval uses its huge ears and height to detect sounds of prey. Once it has detected its prey, typically small rodents, it jumps up to three metres into the air to strike down with its forepaws. Servals are also experts at catching birds and insects in flight. Servals have even been known to venture into waterways to catch live fish.
The National Zoo is home to 3 Servals; Ashaki, Meiko, Zuri
Serval Facts
Taxonomy
Leptailurus serval
Population Movement
Stable
Current Animals
Ashaki, Meiko, Zuri
Life Span (captive)
Median life expectancy of 14 years
Weight
9-18kg
Reproduction
Male servals will reach sexual maturity at 17 months old, females at 15 months old. Females are not seasonal breeders and will enter into estrus for 1-4 days multiple times a year. While they can give birth twice a year, they most often only have 1 litter with litter size being 2-3 kittens.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Group Count
3
Life Span (wild)
12-17 years
Size
59-92 cm
Gestation
74 days
Distribution
Wide distribution, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa; small, isolated populations north of Sahara