Serval Mythos

Last year, a sub-Saharan cat was captured in Santa Fe. This cat, a slender, medium sized animal with a golden yellow coat spotted and striped in black, was taken to the Albuquerque bio park where he is currently being fed and taken care of. 

From what could be seen, the cat was on its own in the wilds of Santa Fe for weeks, hunting what ever it could find. 

I was fortunate enough to meet this cat! Later on, I have found his name to be Hunter, fitting for a survivalist in the Santa Fe wilderness! Currently, he is safe and happy at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge!  

I hope this article and the stories I tell today remind you that a wild animal belongs in the wild. Wild animals do not make good pets. This poor cat was fortunate to be found and taken to a place for care. Many times, exotic animals suffer in domestic captivity. 

The serval cat is native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries except those regions having rainforests. The serval is a carnivore, praying on rodents particularly rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles. With rather impressive ears, the serval uses its sense of hearing to locate prey then it leaps over 2 metres above the ground to attack it's prey from the air in a magnificent pounce! What is most impressive is that kittens of the Serval begin hunting on their own at six months. 

The folklore of the serval is equally as impressive. In an African fable of the Ndebele people, The serval cat used to be the same tawny Color as a lion. 

Since the Serval was smaller and nowhere near as strong as the lion, the other animals often teased him calling him "lions little cousin." 

Serval dreamed of having a magnificent coat like the leopard or a zebra, thinking that if he could not be big and strong he could at least be beautiful. 

One day serval went on his daily hunt and he came across a puff adder. 

An adder is an incredibly poisonous snake. They are very interesting as they are the most widespread snake in Africa and when disturbed, the snake will coil into a defensive S shape and hiss loudly.  

Now this adder with feeling very ill. He asked every animal that passed by for help but none would help the it for fear of the serpent was strong. 

"Kind serval! I am feeling very ill and none of the other animals will help me! " announced the Adder. The serval, ever the observant cat replied, "No wonder, you are such a nasty creature that all animals go in fear of you. But, because you are ill, I will help you just this once but you must promise to keep your fangs to yourself!" 

The puff Adder agreed to be on his best behavior and the Serval brought the snake home and looked after him. It took a long time for the snake to get better for indeed he was very ill but, thanks to serval's care and attention, he recovered to the peak of health! 

"Thank you good serval for your kindness! To show my gratitude, I will give you anything within my power." rejoiced the Adder, nearly doing cartwheels in snake format (See the mythical Japanese tumbling snake for details. Don't worry I will also be covering those in a future article!) 

The serval replied "there is nothing I would like more than a beautiful coat! " 

The Adder pondered for a moment and finally answered, "I will have to bite you. But do not fear. My poison will not harm you for I will only use a very small amount." and so the Adder bit Serval carefully. 

Fighting through nausea and all those other afflictions that come with a small amount of poison (think a hangover, or flu), The serval's coat began to change! From tawny fur, the poison did its work, changing it now to a golden color with black spots. 

Overjoyed with his new handsome appearance, and as a sign of respect for each other, the puff adder and the serval do not trouble each other to this day. 

I hope this fable sheds light on the bigger picture. Servals are unfortunately one of the African cats ending up in the exotic pet trade. As I said above, wild animals do not make a good pets. The fable of how the serval got it spots is it tale of how life needs to respect life. 

Humanity, for it could be in the role of the Puff Adder, once relied heavily on nature and now we need to show nature, in the role of the Serval, a kindness.