Serval cat spotted in Tangier Forest, raising concerns over Its endangered status

The National Agency for Water and Forests is currently tracking the whereabouts of a serval cat, also known as the “leopard cat,” that was spotted near Tangier. 

The feline remains at large, and the agency is investigating the reasons behind its appearance in the area.

“The reason for its appearance in this area is currently unknown,” the agency told Hespress Ar. “It is considered one of the animals on the verge of extinction in Morocco.”

Following the release of a video showing the serval cat, the agency immediately launched a “wide-scale combing operation” in the area to locate the animal and verify the authenticity of the footage.

“This operation included a field sweep of the areas where the animal was reported to have been sighted, as well as neighboring areas, to search for its tracks and gather information from residents in this regard, for analysis by specialists,” the agency said. 

“The agency’s teams are continuing their field combing operations, remaining vigilant and ready to intervene and respond to any sightings of this animal or reports of its presence.”

Addressing the question of how the serval cat reached the forest in Cap Spartel, the agency stated that “The Water and Forests services are still making efforts to determine how it reached the areal,” noting that “The leopard cat is currently only found in zoos, where it lives in captivity.”

The agency further clarified that “the serval cat is only found in Africa, especially south of the Sahara, in small isolated groups.” In Morocco, the serval cat is considered endangered, with its possible presence in Guelmim and Oued Draa regions, extending east to Ait Wabli and north to the Oued Noun/Assaka region on the edge of the Western Atlas Mountains, and in the Middle Atlas from Ifrane to Ouaouizeght. Two recent sightings were documented in 2013 and 2014.” 

The agency said that the protection of these animals from extinction is part of its strategy for 2020-2030.

The agency also pointed out that “The impact of the serval cat on local populations and the environment in general remains limited due to its relatively small size and diet, which is mainly based on hunting small prey, such as rodents.”

The Serval cat does not pose a direct threat to humans; on the contrary, it may be beneficial by contributing to the regulation of rodent populations that could become harmful to agriculture or public health if they proliferate.

“The serval cat belongs to the cat family and is a carnivorous mammal,” the agency explained. “It is characterized by its agile body, long neck, and limbs. It is covered in dense fur that ranges in color from sandy to golden yellow, with black spots that distinguish each individual. The average body weight of a serval cat is between 14 and 18 kilograms for adult males and between 10 and 12.5 kilograms for adult females.”

According to the same source, this animal relies primarily on meat for its diet. “It feeds on small mammals, such as rodents and rabbits, along with reptiles, insects, and sometimes fish.”

Ninety percent of its prey weigh less than 200 grams. This species is classified in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 

Any activity related to it is subject to prior authorization from the National Agency for Water and Forests, in accordance with Law No. 29.05 on the protection of wild plant and animal species and the control of trade in them.