Leptailurus serval (Schreber, 1776) – Serwal sawannowy – Serval

The information contained in the Alien Species in Poland database is purely scientific and does not constitute legal advice or carry legal authority.

Status

The species is alien in whole area of its current or past occurrence in Poland

Casual in the environment

In Poland, at least one confirmed sighting of a savannah serval is known. In 2025, one individual was recorded in the Głogów Forest District; it had escaped from captivity and was capturead after a few days. In addition, several sightings of individuals resembling a serval have been reported, but their species identity remains uncertain.

References

• Grega T., Fundacja Miejski Park i Ogród Zoologiczny w Krakowie 2026. Informacja ustna (personal communication)
• Nadleśnictwo Głogów 2025. Na terenie leśnictwa Wilków w dniu dzisiejszym widziano Serwala sawannowego. link
• Nadleśnictwo Głogów 2025. W dniu 20.09 poszukiwany serwal sawannowy został schwytany i jest już bezpieczny u swoich właścicieli. link

Life form: Mammal

Phylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae

Scientific synonyms: Caracal serval (Schreber, 1776); Felis capensis Forster, 1765; Felis senegalensis Lesson, 1839; Felis serval Schreber, 1776