Sept. 1 (UPI) — Wildlife officers in Nova Scotia stated they’re attempting to find out how an African serval cat got here to be wandering unfastened on the streets of Halifax.
Rachel Smith stated she and her son have been driving within the Armdale neighborhood once they noticed a cat as large as a medium-sized canine in a stand-off with a home cat/
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“I used to be actually involved for the home cat, but in addition with the unique cat,” Smith informed CBC News. “I’ve by no means heard of Halifax having unique cats, so I simply discovered that was actually weird for that to occur.”
Smith reported the unique animal to native authorities, and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables confirmed the cat, an African serval, was captured the subsequent day by animal management officers and animal rescue volunteers.
Servals are unlawful to own in Nova Scotia, however they’re typically stored as unique pets elsewhere. Officials speculated the cat might have been illegally delivered to the province from Ontario.
Tricia Fleming, the human wildlife coexistence biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, stated the serval is below remark.
“Staff are working to look after the animal, handle any well being considerations after which work in the direction of figuring out subsequent steps,” Fleming stated.
The cat’s origins stay below investigation.
Hope Swinimer, proprietor of the Hope for Wildlife rehabilitation heart in Seaforth, Nova Scotia, has provided to offer the serval a brand new home.
“We would give a eternally home right here, and it might be a very good academic piece for us to show folks about not conserving wildlife as pets, as a result of it by no means ends properly for the wild animal,” Swinimer informed CTV News.
