Some farmers will kill servals if they are found nearby, but generally servals do not prey on any livestock. Servals typically get rid of the internal organs of rodents while eating, and pluck feathers from birds before consuming them. PetPartners, Inc. is an indirect corporate affiliate of PetPlace.com. Servals have been observed caching large kills to be consumed later by concealing them in dead leaves and grasses. having the capacity to move from one place to another. There are many reasons you should reconsider buying a serval cat. 2008. uses smells or other chemicals to communicate. Trainer shares her simple method for success, Got a needy, unhappy cat? Get the best advice, tips and top tech for your beloved Pets. (Bowland and Perrin, 1993; Geertsema, 1984; Walker, et al., 1964), African servals have become accustomed to people and motor vehicles due to tourism, farming, and relocation. Netherlands Journal of Zoology, 35/4: 527-610. [24] A mother with young kittens rests for a notably lesser time and has to spend almost twice the time and energy for hunting than do other servals. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the serval cat, and other wild or exotic species, as potential pets. [1], The association of servals with human beings dates to the time of Ancient Egypt. Jarman, P. 1991. African Lions and Cats. Scavenging has been observed, but very rarely. Therefore, you will need to find a suitable exotic animal or wildlife veterinarian in your region who will treat your serval. The kittens are weaned at the age of one month and begin hunting on their own at six months of age. At the bottom of the leg-guides, draw a couple of horizontal ovals for the feet. Listen to some serval sounds at the 2:00 minute mark here. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. [16] Because of this higher bite force, servals can subdue larger prey than can feral cats.. Additionally, servals use urine to mark their territory, so they may urine mark your home, your personal items, and even you. While servals are perfectly capable of showing affection, its hardly in their nature to relax on the couch or in someones lap. The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. Upon reaching the shoulders, the lines break and scatter into spots along the same path of the stripes. (Breitenmoser-Wrsten and Breitenmoser, 1996; Geertsema, 1991; Livingston, 2009), African servals are estimated to live 10 years in the wild. The snow leopard-looking Ashera breed produces only five litter per year, so owning one is a true gem. They can be owned in some areas, but they are wild animals and can be dangerous and unruly. 1990. While serval cats are gorgeous animals, they should not be confused with domestic cats. A serval is a cat native to the African grasslands typically found south of the Sahara Desert. [24] The percentage of rodents in the diet has been estimated at 80-97%. Servals are considered wild animals; therefore, theyre subject to the laws and rules governing wild animal ownership. Servals, a mid-sized African cat, are an option for residents of just under twenty U.S. states. Natural History, 100/2: 52-32. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 38/2: 185-188. When we moved into our new home, [our pet serval cat] promptly escaped. Silva, J., S. Ogassawara, M. Marvulo, J. Ferreira-Neto, J. Dubey. Studies have used radio transmitters to show that most effective releases are at least 10 km from humans at a site with sufficient prey. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 32/3: 349-351. (Geertsema, 1991; Perrin, 2001), Increasing human populations and agricutural developement have reduced habitat for both African servals and their prey. [24], Gestation lasts for two to three months, following which a litter of one to four kittens is born. In West Africa, the serval has significance in traditional medicine. Garfield and his human Jon Arbuckle debuted on June 19, 1978, and have been enduring/endearing one another ever since. Theyll eat anything small enough for them to catch, including grasshoppers, snakes, and even birds as large as storks and guinea fowls. Garfield (Bill Murray) the lazy cat has everything a cat could want. Alderton, D. 1993. Heres how it works. Live rodents can be released directly into your servals enclosure, and live seafood can be dumped into their water fountain. Most servals can be found at zoos or large cat rescues and there is a good reason for this. This is longer than the average domestic cat (15 years11), so you should understand the responsibility of taking care of a wild animal for a long time before deciding to get one. Pastoralists often kill servals to protect their livestock, though servals generally do not prey on livestock. But after Odie runs away, Garfield is motivated to go rescue Odie himself. It is similar in size and temperament to an F1, but it will tend to be slightly more affectionate and less wary of new interactions. This success rate was observed in successfully reintroduced and wild servals. They look similar to a leopard, and you may be surprised to learn that some people have domesticated them and kept them as pets. Territories can overlap, but animals rarely interact with one another unless breeding. They are more active towards dusk, dawn, and midnight, and will spend more time foraging on cool or rainy days. A servals natural instincts compel them to jump, climb, and explore. This article on keeping serval cats as pets was originally published in 2012 and is regularly updated. [21], The serval locates prey by its strong sense of hearing. A tamed Serval, which hails from Africa. Yes, you. [41] Observations of captive servals suggest that when a female enters oestrus, the rate of urine-marking increases in her as well as the males in her vicinity. Providing for these needs will likely be expensive and often necessitate creating an entire outdoor enclosure. Dr. Barnette lives in southwest Florida with her husband and daughter (plus two cats, a dog, and a rescued dove!) Servals will also eat grass, possibly to aid in digestion. No two serval coats are the same. Regardless, we couldnt risk our child or visitors. In Namibia, it is present in Khaudum and Mudumu National Parks. Reintroduction of captive-raised servals has been attempted, but there has been difficulty introducing them too close to human habitations. It prefers areas close to water bodies such as wetland and savanna, which provide cover such as reeds and tall grasses. [27], Both leucistic and melanistic servals have been observed in captivity. 2007. Ideal hunting spots are located along roads or trails, where there is good audibility on all sides and less noise is made when walking. Convergent in birds. Dens vary from dense shrubs to holes under rocks or abandoned burrows. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. in Zoology and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The head-and-body length is typically between 67 and 100 cm (26-39 in). While these exotic cats may look similar to our domesticated pet cats, they are not domestic animals. long and 60 cm (2 ft.) tall at the shoulder. Three subspecies are recognised. Since 2019, it has been illegal as an elective procedure in the state of New York. African Serval Attacks Toddler at Birthday Party. ABC 57 News. and enjoys kayaking, biking, and hiking. Servals rely on their coat for camouflage as they stalk prey and avoid predators where they live throughout parts of northwest Africa and much of sub-Saharan Africa. After acquiring all features, Dr. Frankencat will present it, with varying results. Feb. 1991. pp. In their natural habitat, they roam savannahs and wetlands while hunting small prey. During the hot midday, they rest or groom themselves in the shade of bushes and grasses. In an effort to increase the appeal of servals, they were bred with domestic cats to create a new breed, the Savannah cat. It was exhausting., And then, Lolo says, it happened. The serval attacked our baby., The baby had TEETH marks on her temple and next to the eye, Lolo says. The average annual temperature within the geographic range of African servals is 13.7 C and the average rainfall 826 mm/year. Some states completely prohibit serval ownership, while others allow it without restriction. Serval cats require a varied and diverse diet. The cat has a lean body and long legs. Instead, aim to vary your cats diet between live rodents and seafood. All rights reserved. Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. Contents 1 History 2 Nermal's gender 3 Personality 4 Alter egos 5 Trivia 6 Television appearances When it comes to their meals, servals cant make do with your average store-bought cat foods. Additionally, there are a number of legal regulations to take into account with this species. Their bites are nearly three times stronger than those of typical cats and they love to roughhouse with their claws. Leptailurus serval (formerly classified as Felis serval) is a member of the family Felidae. Please be respectful of copyright. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [20] The serval is an efficient, though not frequent, climber; an individual was observed to have climbed a tree to a height of more than 9 metres (30 feet) to escape dogs. Garfield Specials. 35(4):527-610. Oct. 29, 2018. Warren Garfield Braddy. However, its important to note that these are still considered exotic cats. They are particularly fond of African vlei rats, but also eat birds, other small rodents, frogs, reptiles, and insects. They have large, triangular ears to hear miniscule sounds of their prey. The behavior of a mother changes to accommodate her young as she must forage for them as well as herself. Luckily, we found him a good home.. That was the last straw. In zoos, servals are provided with plenty of enclosure space for exercise. Servals appear to be efficient hunters; a study in Ngorongoro showed that servals were successful in half of their hunting attempts, regardless of the time of hunting, and a mother serval was found to have a success rate of 62%. The back of the ears are black with a white line between them. 66 for more than 30 years before retiring. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat; it stands 54 to 62 cm (21-24 in) at the shoulder and weighs 8 to 18 kg (18-40 lb), but females tend to be lighter. Read on to learn about the serval. The pelt of servals is valuable and used to make mantles worn by chiefs in native tribes. His siblings were Mabel Braddy Araya, Harold (Ruth)Braddy, and Margaret Braddy. Maybe youve seen them on social media. African servals have more difficulty catching birds and insects. As explained above, this isnt the superman version of a pet cat. Young Serval looking down from a lofty perch. The hybrid exotic cat, the savannah cat, is more manageable while retaining the unique coat pattern and high energy. They require a specialized diet featuring a wide variety of protein and nutrient-rich meats. He was extremely stubborn., They play using their teeth and claws, and they may be too rough with children or view them as toys or prey. All rights reserved. Plus, scratches are much worse with serval cats. The serval isnt a domestic house cat with awesome abilities. Dont confuse space with efficiency just because you have multiple acres doesnt mean you can just drop a serval onto the property and they will fend for themselves. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Serval (Leptailurus serval). Cats For Africa. You will receive a verification email shortly. Weight. Super sleek: African servals are small, slender cats with long legs, a lean body, a short tail, and a small head. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. We've got photography tips, videos, photos of amazing pets, and more! Prey are generally eaten where they caught or along the roadside when undisturbed. A serval should be housed in a large, outdoor enclosure. Here's our complete list of the most expensive cat breeds in the world in 2023: The Ashera- Up to $125,000 Savannah- $50,000 Bengal- $25,000 Persian- $5,500 Peterbald- $5,000 Sphynx- $3,000 Average weight: Male: 30lbs/14kg, Female: 25lbs/11kg (about the same size as a Beagle or Cocker Spaniel). A male moves up to 9.6 km from thier natal range to establish a territory. Studies in the 2000s and the 2010s show that the serval, along with the caracal and the African golden cat, forms one of the eight lineages of Felidae. Geertsema, A. This includes peeing on household items and you. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. Their head-body length is between 26 and 39 inches. Servals are lanky cats, with long, stilt-like legs and lean bodies. They listen and wait until ready, then they jump in the air8and land on their prey. [23], The serval is similar to the sympatric caracal, but has a narrower spoor, a rounder skull, and lacks its prominent ear tufts. Carefully reflect on your capacity to provide for the needs of such an unusual and demanding pet before bringing home a serval or any exotic cat. It is the sole member of the genus Leptailurus.Three subspecies are recognised. For more detailed information about this verse, visit the Garfield Wiki. They live alone, defending a large territory against other servals. Both sexes establish highly overlapping home ranges of 10 to 32km2 (4 to 12sqmi), and mark them with feces and saliva. Also, unlike most other wild cats, they almost never scavenge, or eat other animals leftovers. defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement. The comic itself has been published in about 2,580 . [31] 1993. In South Africa, the serval was recorded in Free State, eastern Northern Cape, and southern North West. July 3, 2018. If human habitation is close, servals may become nocturnal when hunting. They also spend time in forest brush, bamboo thickets, marshes, and streams within their home range. Each ear has a large white spot, surrounded by black coloration. The number of kills in a 24-hour period averaged 15 to 16. The name "serval" is derived from (lobo-) cerval, i.e. Inspired by similar remixes of newspaper comic strips like The Dysfunctional Family Circus and Marmaduke Explained, Garfield Minus Garfield is created by editing already-existing comic strips in ways that completely change their original . These animals are plucked before consumption. As someone named Lolo commented below, Lolos pet serval cat did really well with his litter habits, but still enjoyed peeing in/on things in the house. Servals may also encourage ecotourism, which is common in Tanzania where most servals reside. The coats are predominantly shades of tan or orange with black or dark brown markings. While hunting servals will use their acute sense of hearing to locate prey, and quietly stalk the prey before pouncing on it. Keeping a serval content and engaged may require turning your home into a veritable zoo. There was a problem. Dr. Barnette is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she received both her B.S. Garfield is a lazy, selfish, overweight, orange tabby cat whose main hobbies are chilling out, sleeping, watching TV. 1991. A serval sits patiently in a grassy field, swiveling its head back and forth like a watchful owl. This may lead to hunting of livestock, as it is an easy and highly nutritious meal. 5. [39] To kill small prey, it slowly stalks it, then pounce on it with the forefeet directed toward the chest, and finally lands on it with its forelegs outstretched. These cats are active and acrobatic creatures, capable of leaping and capturing elusive prey. According to a 2006 genetic study, the Caracal lineage came into existence 8.5million years ago, and the ancestor of this lineage arrived in Africa 8.55.6mya. garfield is a serval and jon should be injail for illegally owning an exotic animal saladsaladnovski jon should be in jail for more than just that A Savannah cat is a cross between a serval and a domestic cat. Native to the African grasslands, the serval resembles a small leopard. Males weigh about 9 to 18 kg and females 9 to 13 kg. Their underbelly is white or cream colored, and has very dense and fluffy fur.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-medrectangle-4-0'); Servals are unique little cats that are surprisingly acrobatic! Cats like cheetahs sport spots, while others, such as tigers, wear stripes. Geertsema, A. Members of this species in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania are found at elevations between 1400 and 2200 m where winters are mild and there is occasional snowfall. 2011. Tessa Canniff (author), Radford University, Karen Powers (editor), Radford University, Gail McCormick (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff. He noted that she would roam restlessly, spray urine frequently holding her vibrating tail in a vertical manner, rub her head near the place she has marked, salivate continuously, give out sharp and short "miaow"s that can be heard for quite a distance, and rub her mouth and cheeks against the face of an approaching male. [36][37], Agonistic behavior involves vertical movement of the head (contrary to the horizontal movement observed in other cats), raising the hair and the tail, displaying the teeth and the white band on the ears, and yowling. "Leptailurus serval" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Scientists think this is because theyre already such successful hunters. Fixler, Hayley. The coat pattern helps the cats disguise themselves when hunting in tall grasses. Servals, a mid-sized African cat, are an option for residents of just under twenty U.S. states. The cats are strong with fast reflexes, and they even use their teeth and claws during play. Savannah cats are an official breed of pet cat that is legal to own. The area of these ranges can vary from 10 to 32 square kilometres (4 to 12 square miles); prey density, availability of cover and human interference could be significant factors in determining their size. Yet a month or so later, there was a surprise hit anime adaptation which introduced many people abroad to the series. Servals may act somewhat domesticated if raised around humans but, at their core, they are still wild animals. The Servals of Gorigor. Mating takes place at different times of the year in different parts of their range, but typically once or twice a year in an area. Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Exotic Wild Felids from Brazilian Zoos. December 01, 2010 The gestation period is two or three months, and the female serval gives birth to a litter of one to four kittens. Walker's Mammals of the World. Chemical communication of adults is limited to scent markings emitted from urine and glands in the cheeks. If youre familiar with zoology or wild animals, you may have heard of the serval cat. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 5462cm (2124in) at the shoulder and weighs 918kg (2040lb). They are more rare in northern Africa, and only known to be found in Morocco. Netherlands Journal of Zool. It remains motionless for up to 15 minutes; when prey is within range, it jumps with all four feet up to 4m (13ft) in the air and attacks with its front paws. There are also plenty of videos of serval cats. Servals tend to be sedentary, shifting only a few kilometres away even if they leave their range. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Some of the different habitats that they commonly inhabit include savannas, wetlands, moorlands, semi-arid forests, and bamboo thickets. Saulny, Susan. Female ranges do not overlap with other females, but may overlap with males. The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. Thank you for signing up to Petsradar. Pena, Melvin. [23][26] The serval has a good sense of smell, hearing and vision. African servals, originally found throughout Africa, now predominantly reside in southern Africa, especially in Zimbabwe and the province of Natal. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands. In the following, we present the serval as the ancestor of a very modern, but original cat breed, the Savannah. These are wild animals, and should be regarded as such. The Veterinary Clinics of North America., 12/2: 327-334. We had to keep them separate 24/7. Servals mostly hunt rodentson average, one serval eats 4,000 a yearbut theyre not picky eaters like some other wild cats. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 32/1: 79-86. Servals should not be confused with domestic cats. South African Journal of Zoology, 28/3: 132-135. (Alderton, 1993; Geertsema, 1984; Geertsema, 1991; Perrin, 2001), Being a solitary animal, African servals only interact with other members of their species when mating, caring for young, or fighting for territory. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T11638A156536762.en, "The Late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment", "Notes upon some African species of the genus, "Notice sur la classification multisriale des carnivores, spcialement des Flids, et les tudes de zoologie gnrale qui s'y rattachent", "A revised taxonomy of the Felidae: The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group", "Exclusive: Rare Black Wildcat Caught on Film in Africa", "Antelopes of the Dinder-Alatash transboundary Protected Area, Sudan and Ethiopia", "The spotted ghost: Density and distribution of serval, "Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats", "Wild Cat Hybrid Fad in California Concerning To Pet Experts", Species portrait of serval by the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Serval&oldid=1137008946, Mammals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Taxa named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Taxonbars with multiple manual Wikidata items, Taxonbars with automatically added original combinations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 08:11. Something New Out of Africa. Imagine your serval is playing or hunting at 3 a.m. and those 29 pounds landon you in the bed mid-sleep. During the last century, breeders again developed an interest in servals. Servals primarily hunt rats and other small rodents along with fish and frogs in the water, large insects and small birds, which they are able to catch both on the ground and by leaping into the air. These intelligent creatures require lots of environmental enrichment to keep them entertained in human care.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'animals_net-banner-1','ezslot_6',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-banner-1-0'); Some examples include toys like balls and ropes, puzzle feeders, and different substrates. If you have reservations about these aspects of serval ownership, you would likely be better served by seeking out a domesticated cat breed. The prey, receiving a blow from one or both of the serval's forepaws, is incapacitated, and the serval bites it on the head or the neck and immediately swallows it. The nutrition and natural history of the serval (Felis serval) and caracal (Caracal caracal). Grzimek, B. Their extra-long neck and legs give them the nickname "giraffe cat." Servals have a coat that is tawny with both black lines and spots, while their belly is a soft white. Mammals of the World. But put together, their bizarre-looking body parts make these cats really successful hunters. Perrin, M. 2001. The first issue of Garfield Minus Garfield was posted on February 13th, 2008, and it served as a strong introduction to the series's brand of bleak comedy. She has 15 years of clinical experience as a small animal veterinarian, treating dogs, cats, and occasional exotic patients. Reintroduced servals have an average range of 6.2 square km which is significantly less than those of wild individuals. It may be difficult to find a veterinarian willing to work with a serval, but proper veterinary care is an essential component of responsible ownership. Servals are medium-sized felines native to Africa. According to one exotic cattery owner who has kept a number of servals since 2012, A serval cat needs variety in its diet, just like in the wild., She suggests a variety of meats such as chicken and turkey necks/back/legs/gizzards, mice, chicks, beef, a variety of birds such as quail/duck/grouse, and smaller prey such as mice/rats/rabbit., Other foods she recommends include different types of seafood such as cod, salmon, snapper, sardines, basa, shrimp, lobster, crab, shellfish; and eggs, cheese, oils, vegetables and fruits, and grass.4. It will seek cover to escape its view, and, if the predator is very close, immediately flee in long leaps, changing its direction frequently and with the tail raised. They are acrobatic creatures, and have lots of ledges and climbing opportunities. Taxon Information They have long legs, large ears, spotted coats, and a short tail. Servals can purr. While serval ownership may sound like a good idea in theory, there are a number of factors to consider before purchasing an exotic cat. Many owners report that they dont leave the habit of spraying urine to mark their territory behind once theyve entered a home. He probably viewed the baby as prey and/or as a threat. The head-and-body length is typically between 67 and 100cm (2639in). Oestrus can last as little as 1 day. Once the location of prey has been established, servals slink forward. .mw-parser-output table.clade{border-spacing:0;margin:0;font-size:100%;line-height:100%;border-collapse:separate;width:auto}.mw-parser-output table.clade table.clade{width:100%;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label{min-width:0.2em;width:0.1em;padding:0 0.15em;vertical-align:bottom;text-align:center;border-left:1px solid;border-bottom:1px solid;white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label::before,.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel::before{content:"\2060 "}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-fixed-width{overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-fixed-width:hover{overflow:visible}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label.first{border-left:none;border-right:none}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label.reverse{border-left:none;border-right:1px solid}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel{padding:0 0.15em;vertical-align:top;text-align:center;border-left:1px solid;white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel:hover{overflow:visible}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel.last{border-left:none;border-right:none}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel.reverse{border-left:none;border-right:1px solid}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-bar{vertical-align:middle;text-align:left;padding:0 0.5em;position:relative}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-bar.reverse{text-align:right;position:relative}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leaf{border:0;padding:0;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leafR{border:0;padding:0;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leaf.reverse{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.clade:hover span.linkA{background-color:yellow}.mw-parser-output table.clade:hover span.linkB{background-color:green}, In April 1986, the first savannah cat, a hybrid between a male serval and a female domestic cat, was born; it was larger than a typical domestic kitten and resembled its father in its coat pattern. The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! [21][20], The serval is vulnerable to hyenas and African wild dogs. The Serval is a carnivorous animal that hunts and eats small animals in order to survive. (Alderton, 1993; Geertsema, 1984; Geertsema, 1991), Minimum territory size of African servals is 11.6 sq km. NY 10036. Eltringham, S. 1979. 6. [32] So of course when my mom told me what happened. Nowak, R. 1999. Humans do cause some conflict with servals, but it is relatively minimal. Small populations are located in the Atlas Mountains, where distributions were greater prior to 1980. African servals are host to a parasitic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, and antibodies to the parasite have been found in the blood of servals. If serval ownership is legal in your area, begin by determining whether you have access to an exotic animal veterinarian. Stuttgart: Kleine Senckenberg-Reihe 48. Spielberg didn't always dream of owning a wild African serval, which are widespread in the continent's sub-Saharan region.