Research overview: servals in African wetlands and agricultural mosaics

The serval, a long-legged grassland and wetland specialist, persists in agricultural and even industrial landscapes across parts of Africa, exploiting rodent-rich pastures, wetlands and field margins near human activity. This overview synthesises camera-trap and telemetry research on serval habitat use in human-modified mosaics, including notably high densities recorded at some industrial and agricultural sites, and the role of abundant rodent prey. It examines threats from roads, persecution and habitat conversion, and the species behavioural tolerance of disturbance. The synthesis frames the serval as an adaptable small-to-medium felid whose rodent-hunting prowess allows it to thrive in certain human-dominated African landscapes.