Serval in Kenya Description
Swahili: mondo
The serval is a wild cat, about the size of a domestic cat but with much longer legs. It is found in all the major game reserves in Kenya.
The serval’s colouring is a dirty yellow with large black spots which follow lines along the length of the body. Other prominent features are the large upright ears, the long neck and the relatively short tail. It stands about 50 cm high and measures 130 cm including the tail. Being a largely nocturnal animal, the serval is usually only seen in the early morning or late eve-ning. It lives on birds, hares and rodents and is an adept hunter — it catches birds in mid-flight by leaping into the air.
Serval cat young are born in litters of up to four and although independent at one year, don’t reach sexual maturity until two years of age.