Escaped serval in Helmond still on the loose

A serval that escaped in the Helmond district of Houtsdonk a week and a half ago has not yet been found, the police said. The police would like to contact the owner, but according to a spokesperson, they have not yet been able to do so.

A serval is a feline predator with sharp teeth and claws. Shortly after the big cat’s escape, the police sent out a Burgernet message warning residents of Helmond (Noord-Brabant) to keep their dogs and cats indoors or on a leash. Th spokesperson could not say on Monday whether that was still necessary.

The Helmond Animal Ambulance said it was unaware of the escape and was not looking for the animal.

Another serval recently escaped in Lexmond in Utrecht. That animal has been recaptured.

The AAP Foundation, which takes in exotic animals in need, is currently caring for the serval from Utrecht because the owner did not want to take the animal back, said director and biologist David van Gennep.

According to Van Gennep, the serval currently on the loose in Helmond has a good chance of survival. The animal eats “anything smaller than itself,” like mice and rats, but also rabbits, chickens, and small cats or dogs.

As a rule, wild animals like servals don’t like the taste of other predators, such as cats and dogs. But if it has lived in a house for a long time, Van Gennep thinks the animal may no longer recognize cats and dogs as other predators.

According to the director, keeping a serval as a pet is “highly undesirable,” and people often quickly regret it. In recent years, the AAP Foundation has received 50 to 60 requests to take in servals per year. It currently has a waiting list.

As of July 1, Netherlands residents are no longer allowed to keep servals as pets. People who already have one can keep it until the end of its life. They’re also allowed to sell or give the animal away. It is not allowed to release the animal into the wild.