The other day we found a dead serval on the path down to the lake from the patrol post. It had sustained serious injuries to the right eye. For those of you who are not familiar with servals, they are beautiful wild cats with long legs and big ears that live in the savannah. People hunt them for their fur. Servals, like many other animals, have also suffered in recent years from a destruction of habitat.
This photo gives you an idea of the size compared to a man.
We examined the serval and as you can see by the last photo we did an autopsy. We concluded that the serval died from the injuries to the eye that he probably got from fighting with another animal. We do not believe that the serval died as a result of poachers. It was a very sad day for us because there are not enough predators - lions, hyenas etc - in Ishango. And servals are just beautiful, delicate and elegant creatures that we rarely observe here in Ishango.
9 Comments posted on "Serval found dead"
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on March 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Atamato, so very sad for this to happen. Servals are just as you described, so very elegant. To see one leap into the air, is to know that there is a higher power. I appreciate and take comfort from your support of wildlife.
Mary on March 25th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Thank you for introducing me to such a beautiful creature I knew nothing about. It is unfortunate it is under these circumstances. Please continue your efforts, and thank you for them!
Annie on March 25th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
So sorry to hear this..but am glad a poacher didn’t get it……very beautiful animal!
Sherri S. on March 26th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
What beauty exists in this world! I’m very glad that, for once, man doesn’t appear to be the cause of its destruction.
sheryl, washington dc on March 26th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
You have some sad days on your job, Atamato. I’m sorry to see this beautiful animal dead and hope that you will see live servals in Ishango soon. s.
Sté R. on March 27th, 2008 at 5:03 am
What a sad story. I love Servals. I think that they are the most beautiful animals on earth with pinguins.
Anto on March 27th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Dear Atamoto, I just would like to thank you to make us dream with your blog !! I live in Switzerland and never saw a serval of my life, but I do love those giant cats !!!
Stef on April 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Hi Atamoto ! Would it be possible to spend my holidays with you in Kenya ?
Heather on April 15th, 2008 at 11:49 am
They are amazing and beautiful creatures, I’m just sad to see one go in such pain. I love all big cats and it hurts every time I see one dead. I hope it had a good life, it deserved one! Post a comment
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