A native African wild cat was recently found and rescued from a live trap in Missouri after a farmer emailed a wildlife sanctuary that specializes in caring for big cats.
The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, responded to the emergency rescue email and recovered an African serval that had been living in the wooded area in Ava, Missouri, which is a small rural town in the Ozark Mountains.
In a press release issued on Friday, January 20, the sanctuary revealed that locals had seen the sub-Saharan cat passing through the area in the past half a year, but were unaware that it was an exotic animal.
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Servals are considered to be medium-sized carnivorous wild cats that generally live in savannah habitats, according to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).
African serval cats are medium-sized wild cats that have reddish fur and black markings.
(Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge)
The species is said to be native to more than 35 African countries and wildlife experts currently recognize 19 subspecies.
Appearance-wise, servals have tawny fur coats with black spots and have long necks, long legs and large ears, according to the AWF.
“You never know what the day will bring here,” Tanya Smith, president of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, said in a statement.
Farmers who found the serval in the trap alive provided the animal with venison and water. They also took the cat to a local vet, according to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
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Initially, farmers set the live trap when they noticed that feathers and bones had been hidden among their stacked hay bales.
Farmers in Missouri recently found an African serval in a live trap they placed on their property in the Ozarks.
(Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge)
“Less than twelve hours after setting the trap, they discovered an African serval inside,” the sanctuary wrote in its rescue announcement.
One of the farmers reportedly told the shelter that he thought the serval was a “crazy looking cat.”
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge documented the serval mission in a five-minute, 27-second video, which was posted to Facebook and YouTube on Friday, January 20.
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In the video, Smith said the serval appeared to be in “good health” and would be housed at a temporary quarantine station at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.
He added that the sanctuary team plans to see how the rescued serval will interact with the other servals and bobcats already living at the refuge.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is currently home to several species of big cats, including tigers, lions, pumas, servals, bobcats, leopards, a single jaguar, and various big cat hybrids such as ligers, liligers, and tiligers. savanna cats. The refuge also serves as a home for a hyena and a large group of bears.
“Although the Big Cat Public Safety Act was passed, small cats and other species are not protected,” the refuge wrote in its news release. “It is common for private owners to release exotic species into non-native settings.”
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Experts at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge reportedly suspect that your recently rescued serval may have escaped or been released by a backyard exotic breeder or savannah cat breeder.
The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge shared a post on Facebook on January 20 to inform the public that the serval has been determined to be female and still needs a name.
The rescued serval is receiving care at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge while in quarantine.
(Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge)
In a health update video posted on Monday, January 23, the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge informed its Facebook followers that the rescued serval weighed 29 pounds, showed evidence of being able to hunt birds, and is estimated to be five years old.
The unnamed serval was also found to have fleas and anemia and was scheduled for a partial tail docking the same day due to frostbite. He will eventually have a dental cleaning.
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Those wishing to make a donation and receive the naming rights to Turpentine Creek’s newest serval can contact Smith via email at tanya@tcwr.org.
