An unusual animal was seen on the tarp road when a villager left the village, near the water village of Ishikoshi, Hebei province. It is long, elegant, with large ears, with long tails and cheetahs, and very cat-like. Initially, the villagers thought it was a leopard cat, but it was found to be close to a medium-sized dog, much larger than a cat. If you think about it again, the villagers guess it might be the cub of the Panther, but it's not sure. The villagers took a photograph of the animal and posted it online because they were afraid to approach it.
Although the villagers had some animal knowledge, he did not expect to report to the relevant authorities in a timely manner. The local authorities were not informed of the incident until the photographs were distributed. Following a professional assessment, the head of the wildlife rescue base in Ishikoshi City confirmed that the animal was not a cat, nor was it a panther, but an alien species named Serval, born in Africa and not common in China. The staff of the Zoo of Ishikoshi City also stated that the cat was less aggressive and that the villagers did not need to worry too much.
The incident took place on 14 April last year, and a year has passed. I'd like to share a little bit about the cat. The article is not intended to serve as a news report, but as a brief introduction to the species.
A few days later, the local authorities succeeded in finding and accommodating the cat. Today, it has been placed in a Zoo of Shibuya City, looking at itself in a cage, and it is clear that it should have lived in the natural environment of Africa, perhaps raised as a pet in China, but has been abandoned or fled for various reasons.
Leptailurus sservval, a species originating from the grasslands of Africa, is gradually declining owing to climate change and habitat fragmentation, and is currently concentrated in southern Africa, particularly Zimbabwe and South Africa. Although they live in Africa, they are not always in the hot environment that we imagine, but rather at an average annual temperature of about 13.7°C, with precipitation of 826 mm and even snow in some areas during the winter.
Cats have long body sizes, with shoulders between 54 and 66 centimetres tall, weighing between 9 and 18 kilograms, and a slightly smaller female body size. Their ears are quite large, they're the largest of the cats, and if we compare them with human ears, it's the size of our ears. The big ears are not just decorative; their powerful hearing is the key to the unique hunting of cat.
The cat starts hunting at dawn or at dusk. They capture the sound of the prey approaching by super-heart and jump at the right time to control the prey with their front claws until they are subdued. They can also determine where they hide by listening to the high frequency of rodents and thus capture their prey from the caves.
Despite their strong hunting power, because of their small size, catcats sometimes become prey for other predators, such as leopards and wild dogs. In the face of these threats, catcats usually escape by climbing trees or quickly entering the grass. However, Servals are extremely conscious of their territories and males are marked by the smell of urine and other males are prevented from entering their own territories.
With regard to reproduction, the male cat ' s range of activity may overlap with several females to facilitate the identification of spouses during the reproductive season. After mating, the female cat is raised alone until they grow up and the female returns with food to feed the baby. The calves of male Servals are usually expelled after six months and start living independently.
However, the population of catcats is declining rapidly, mainly due to loss of habitat, illegal pet trade and fur trade. At the same time, as a result of the fragmentation of habitats, catcats sometimes enter agricultural land to hunt for poultry, leading farmers to shoot them.
As people ' s standard of living improves, more and more people are pursuing exotic pets. Cats as elegant and exotic are naturally the new pets market. However, raising cat is an offence and most people are not aware of their habits and maintenance difficulties. Servals are born with a strong predatory instinct, and even in a closed environment, they display a strong territorial consciousness and hunting behaviour that can pose a danger to humans and other pets.
In addition, the dietary needs of catcats differ significantly from those of domestic cats, which require food focused on small mammals, birds and insects, while general cat food is not sufficient to meet their nutritional needs. At the same time, their need for space is high, and a narrow living environment may put pressure on them and lead to undesirable behaviour.
In general, Serval is a beautiful and mysterious animal, yet its ability to adapt to the environment is limited. As a wild animal, cat instincts cannot be easily changed. It is to be hoped that, while appreciating their unique beauty, these wildlife species will be more respected and protected and given a safer and more free living environment. May our world be more harmonious and better for love and protection!