The search for the serval that was spotted at the beginning of this week in the Goois nature reserve has now been considerably intensified. The organization Dog Search has now been called in to trap the feline. An owner has still not reported. “But it has to belong to someone,” says Marianne Dalhuijsen of Dog Search.
The name says it all: Dog Search is usually called in for missing dogs. This is an exception, confirms founder Marianne from Huizen. “But we have often searched for missing servals, including in Rotterdam.”
Marianne says that her foundation was asked by the Goois Nature Reserve to help investigate at the beginning of this week. A spokesperson for the Goois Nature Reserve confirms this. “Dog Research installed a trap cage at our request.”
Common goal
Dog Search volunteers – about fifteen to twenty in total – have put up about 150 pamphlets. “Forest rangers don’t actually like that, but we now have a common goal,” says Marianne about the shared wish to give the serval a roof over its head again as soon as possible.
The foundation has also installed two wildlife cameras and thus installed a trap cage. In order not to disrupt the search process, she does not want to tell us exactly where the cage is located. “We added raw chicken, because a serval doesn’t like kibble or other cat food. They only eat raw meat.”
Dog Search has placed the wildlife cameras in such a way that they do not record passers-by. “A lot away from the paths,” says Marianne, who adds that they want to hang two more cameras.
Observations
As far as we know, the serval has been spotted three times last week, the last sighting being last Thursday. “A woman walking onto the heath first saw the pamphlet hanging, and then saw the serval walking.”
“The servals we have been looking for over the years were all very emaciated when we found them”
Marianne appreciates that the woman quickly reported her report by telephone, because this allows the foundation to conduct a more targeted search. Yet the woman has not read the pamphlet properly, because it advises against chasing the serval and not luring it. “The woman called him, but that’s no use because they are unfamiliar. It’s better to try to take a photo.”
Emaciated
Marianne does not expect the serval to switch to its survival instinct after a while in the wild. “The servals we’ve been looking for over the years were all very emaciated when we found them.”