Servals are medium-sized African wildcats with extraordinary hunting abilities. Zoo welfare programs must provide extensive space, hunting enrichment, and sensory stimulation to meet their behavioral needs.
Servals in zoo settings require large enclosures with varied terrain, climbing structures, and opportunities for hunting simulation. Feeding live prey or concealing food to require active searching addresses their strong predatory drive. Servals kept in small enclosures display stereotypic pacing and become hypervigilant. Their sensitivity to sound means noisy zoo environments cause chronic stress. Solitary housing is appropriate for adult servals, but juveniles benefit from social contact. The exotic pet trade causes significant welfare harm, as household environments cannot meet serval needs.