Diet of serval Felis serval in a highland region of Natal

Abstract

Serval Felis serval diet was determined using faecal analysis. A combination of quantification techniques best illustrated the relative importance of various prey species. Small mammals (Rodentia and Insectívora) accounted for 94% of prey item occurrences. Otomys irroratus was the most important prey species in terms of biomass and number. There was no evidence for servals eating lambs or other medium-sized mammals in the study area.