Overview
A flick of enormous ears above the grass may be the first sign of a serval. Slender, secretive and exceptionally alert, this medium-sized wild cat is superbly adapted to hunting small prey hidden within Tanzania’s grasslands and wetlands.
Its unusually long legs raise the body above tall vegetation, while its oversized ears can detect the faint movements of rodents beneath the grass. Once prey is located, the serval launches into a high, arcing pounce and lands with its forepaws extended.
The golden coat is covered with bold black spots and stripes, providing excellent camouflage among broken light and vegetation. Servals are usually solitary and most active from dusk through the night, although they may also hunt during daylight in quiet areas.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a slender cat with extremely long legs, a small head, very large rounded ears and a short, black-ringed tail. Its coat is golden or tawny, marked with black spots across the body and dark stripes along the neck and shoulders.
The ears can turn independently, allowing the serval to pinpoint sounds coming from different directions. It may stand motionless for several minutes, listening carefully before springing upwards and dropping directly onto concealed prey.
Servals hunt mainly in long grass, reedbeds, marsh edges and other areas close to water. Rodents form much of the diet, but they also catch birds, frogs, reptiles, insects and occasionally fish. Their long legs also help them reach into burrows and strike birds as they take flight.
Interesting facts
Their legs are proportionally the longest of any wild cat. This gives them a higher viewpoint and helps them move through tall grass while listening for hidden prey.
They can leap around three metres into the air. These vertical jumps allow them to intercept birds or bring their forepaws down onto prey concealed below.
Their enormous ears act like directional sound detectors. Each ear can rotate independently, helping the serval locate rodents moving beneath dense vegetation.