Today is World Serval Day, a time to celebrate and raise awareness of one of Africa’s most extraordinary wild cats. The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a lesser-known African feline, instantly recognisable for its long legs, golden spotted coat, and remarkably large ears.
Native to sub-Saharan Africa, servals thrive in grasslands and wetlands. Their long legs help them navigate tall grasses, while their oversized ears allow them to detect prey hidden underground. In fact, servals have one of the highest hunting success rates of any wild cat.
Here at Dartmoor Zoo, we are proud to care for two servals, our male, Churchill, and our female, Sabra. Today is particularly special for us, as it marks one year since Sabra joined Dartmoor Zoo and was introduced to her companion. Watching their bond develop over the past year has been incredibly rewarding for our team, especially since they are almost always side by side.
Churchill’s journey with us began with his rescue in January 2025, when he was removed from concerning conditions and given a second chance at a forever home here at Dartmoor Zoo. His story is a powerful reminder of why wild cats like servals need specialist care, protection and responsible guardianship.
You can read more about Churchill’s rescue and his first year with us by checking out our 1 year blog!
Five Facts About Servals
Built for hunting – Servals have the longest legs relative to body size of any cat.
Exceptional hearing – Their large ears can detect movement beneath the ground.
Incredible jumpers – Servals can leap up to 10 feet (3 meters) into the air to catch birds in flight.
Rodent control experts – A single serval can catch up to 4,000 rodents in a year.
They like water – Unlike many cats, servals enjoy water and are strong swimmers.
While servals are native to Africa, the challenges they face are not confined to the wild. Beyond habitat loss, one of the most pressing threats to this species is the illegal and unethical exotic pet trade. Demand for wild cats in domestic settings continues to place servals at risk.
Particularly concerning is the breeding of servals with domestic cats to create hybrids such as the Savannah cat. These hybrid cats are often marketed as rare or exotic pets, but this unnatural breeding produces animals that are not fully domesticated and can suffer from poor welfare standards. They may be kept in small, unsuitable environments and are frequently bred purely for profit.
In the UK, Savannah cats can legally be owned, and unregulated sellers continue to advertise them online. This trade directly fuels suffering, both for the wild servals used as breeding founders and for the hybrid offspring that often end up in inappropriate homes.
By choosing not to support this, you can play a vital role in protecting servals and promoting responsible animal welfare. If you are thinking about getting a domestic cat, always research carefully and look to a reputable rescue centre near you, where cats are rehomed safely and ethically.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating these incredible creatures and supporting their future! If you’d like to help us continue our important work, please consider making a donation.