| Body Length | 28-38 inches tail 14-18 inches |
| Height at Shoulder | up to 20 inches |
| Weight | up to 40 pounds |
| Gestation Period | 75 days |
| Litter Size | 2-4 |
| Life Span | 19 years |
| Status | Least Concern |
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| This is SAMANTHA, a Serval born in 2004. We call her "SAM." Sam came
to us from a facility that closed. She is small
and only weighs about 15 lbs. We are very pleased that Sam is here to become part our family.
Servals can weigh up to 40 pounds. Servals are found in Africa, south of the Sahara.
They live in the open Savanna near wetlands on the edges of swamps and by the shores
of lakes.
The Serval hunts rodents, lizards, and amphibians on the ground, but they can also
climb trees to hunt birds. This cat has
quite sophisticated hearing to assist it in pinpointing its small prey. Notice
their large, round ears. Servals have uniquely long legs
which serve to aid in prey detection, enabling the cat to see over
tall grass for signs of movement. The Serval will leap vertically
to pounce down directly onto its unsuspecting prey. Servals are also able to
reach high speeds in a short run and are capable of jumping up to 10 feet off
the ground to catch birds. As you look
at the markings on Savannah, notice her circles and stripes. The serval is a
unique cat because of its coat.
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