Sept. 1 (UPI) — Wildlife officers in Nova Scotia mentioned they’re making an attempt to find out how an African serval cat got here to be wandering free on the streets of Halifax.
Rachel Smith mentioned she and her son have been driving within the Armdale neighborhood once they noticed a cat as huge as a medium-sized canine in a stand-off with a home cat/
“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 saved as unique pets elsewhere. Officials speculated the cat could have been illegally dropped at the province from Ontario.
Tricia Fleming, the human wildlife coexistence biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, mentioned the serval is underneath statement.
“Staff are working to take care of the animal, handle any well being issues after which work in direction of figuring out subsequent steps,” Fleming mentioned.
The cat’s origins stay underneath investigation.
Hope Swinimer, proprietor of the Hope for Wildlife rehabilitation middle in Seaforth, Nova Scotia, has provided to present the serval a brand new home.
“We would give a without end home right here, and it will be a great instructional piece for us to show individuals about not conserving wildlife as pets, as a result of it by no means ends nicely for the wild animal,” Swinimer informed CTV News.
