Meet the Animal Park's Servals

NATIVE RANGE

Servals live in most parts of Africa, with the exception of the rainforests, the very southern part of the continent, and the Sahara desert.

DIET

Servals are carnivores and one of the best hunters in the wild cat kingdom. They eat a variety of prey, including rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, fish, and insects.

BEHAVIOR

Typically solitary and territorial, servals are most active around twilight or dusk to avoid the heat of the day, though they may be active at all times of day and night.

FASCINATING FACTS

• Servals have the longest legs of all cats, relative to their size (they weigh up to 40 pounds and stand up to 2 feet tall at the shoulder), and their springlike back legs are longer than their front, giving them the ability to jump 10–12 feet into the air.
• When they leap vertically to catch birds and insects, they clap their front paws around the prey or give it a downward blow with one or both paws.
• They have very large ears and an excellent sense of hearing. They locate a rodent by listening to its underground movements; when it comes near the entrance, they hook it out and fling it into the air in a single smooth movement.
• Ancient Egyptians revered servals for their power and grace and kept them as pets.