Tuesday 18th March marks World Serval Day, and here at Northumberland Zoo we are proud to support Wildheart Animal Sanctuary’s Servival Campaign to ban the breeding of exotic felids with domestic cats within the UK.
Of particular concern is the breeding of Servals with domestic cats to produce the 'Savannah Cat'. Servals are wild cats native to Africa, where the biggest threats to their survival are habitat loss and poaching. They have become involved in the exotic pet trade through being kept as illegal pets due to the rise in popularity of hybrid cats known as 'Savannah' Cats.
Northumberland Zoo is home to two servals. We have a female, Afia, who was born in a Zoo and we are also home to Ikati, our male, who was rescued in Europe. Ikati was originally bred for the illegal pet trade and was rescued from living in someone's house. After being cared for by our rescue partners at AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection) in Holland, Ikati arrived with us in late 2024.
Ikati has been neutered and we have no intention of breeding this pair, they will be companions for each other and advocates for the Servival campaign.
You can learn more about the issues surrounding the unnatural breeding of exotic felids with domestic cats, and what you can do to help by clicking here.
Help us raise awareness by using the hashtag #WorldServalDay on socials to join the conversation, and come & visit our Servival advocates Afia and Ikati at Northumberland zoo!