TSCAER
OUR WORK
TSCAER (The Serval Conservation and Educational Rescue) is addressing the critical need for the rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible rehoming of African servals in captivity. The rising demand for exotic pets, combined with insufficient knowledge of serval care, has led to a growing number of servals being abandoned, mistreated, or confiscated due to legal restrictions or owner incapability. Many servals suffer from trauma, emotional distress, or physical disabilities due to improper care, relocation, or the loss of their caregivers.
Additionally, there is a widespread lack of education regarding the specialized needs of servals, leading to their exploitation or euthanasia. TSCAER addresses this gap by providing a safe haven for servals in need, ensuring they receive proper medical care, rehabilitation, and a second chance at life through responsible adoption and training We also work to educate the public, serval owners and veterinarians to promote responsible ownership and improve serval care by offering a serval husbandry course that covers everything you need to know about caring and housing a serval.
OUR MISSION
The Serval Conservation and Educational Refuge (TSCER) was founded to protect and care for rehomed or rescued domesticated and wild African serval cats. Our refuge and rehabilitation center serves all servals requiring assistance, with a focus on specialized care for handicapped servals and comprehensive public education on serval husbandry, characteristics, history, conservation, and care requirements. Servals, frequently kept as pets or utilized in Savannah cat breeding programs, thrive in captivity but face significant challenges from extremist animal rights organizations advocating for their removal from private and public ownership, even when provided with exemplary care. This misleading rhetoric fuels legislative bans, resulting in confiscation and euthanasia.
OUR GOALS
TSCAER is addressing a critical and growing need for the rescue, rehabilitation, and ethical rehoming of African servals in the United States. As the ownership of exotic animals like servals becomes increasingly restricted due to changing state laws and the complex care requirements of these animals, many servals face neglect, abandonment, or the risk of euthanasia. Furthermore, servals in private ownership often suffer from inadequate care due to a lack of knowledge and resources available to their owners.
The need for specialized rehabilitation and rehoming services is compounded by the emotional and physical trauma servals experience when they are displaced or mistreated. Additionally, there is a widespread lack of education about proper serval husbandry, resulting in improper care and unsafe environments for these animals. Without intervention, these vulnerable servals risk exploitation or unnecessary death.
TSCAER fills this gap by providing a safe haven for servals in need, offering expert care, rehabilitation, and rehoming services. Our organization also educates serval owners, veterinarians, and the public on responsible serval care, aiming to improve the well-being of servals across the country. Through our work, we ensure that servals receive the specialized support they need to live healthy, enriched lives in appropriate environments.
Project Title is “Freedom Fields”
5-Acre African Serval Habitat Expansion and Educational Platform
Organization Overview
The Serval Conservation and Educational Refuge (TSCER), located in Hartford, Alabama, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare, conservation, and education surrounding the African serval (Leptailurus serval). Our mission is to provide lifelong sanctuary for servals in need, educate the public about the challenges these remarkable cats face in the wild and in captivity, and promote responsible stewardship through research, outreach, and hands-on learning experiences.
Project Summary
The Serval Conservation and Educational Refuge is seeking funding to construct a 5-acre natural habitat enclosure designed to house 20 African servals. This project will expand our facility to include a large, enriched, and environmentally stimulating habitat, reflecting the servals’ natural savanna environment. The area will feature varied terrain, platforms for observation, shaded rest areas, vegetation for cover, and large open spaces for running and hunting-like behaviors. An integrated educational platform will allow visitors, researchers, and students to safely observe the servals and learn about their ecological significance, proper care in human care environments, and the urgent need for conservation in their native range.
Statement of Need
African servals are increasingly at risk due to ongoing habitat loss, human conflict, and illegal wildlife trade. In addition, servals kept domestically often struggle due to a lack of understanding of their unique needs, leading to health, behavioral, and welfare concerns. Sanctuaries like TSCER play a critical role in providing lifelong, species-appropriate care to these animals while also serving as a center for public education and wildlife advocacy.
The current facilities at TSCER are at full capacity, and the servals would greatly benefit from more natural space for exercise, mental stimulation, and the expression of natural behaviors. A 5-acre habitat expansion will not only improve the welfare of resident servals but also enhance our educational programming, inviting the community to engage meaningfully with conservation issues.
Project Goals and Objectives
- Animal Welfare Enhancement: Provide a 5-acre, naturalistic habitat allowing 20 servals to roam freely, engage in natural behaviors, and live enriched, high-quality lives.
- Education and Outreach: Develop an elevated public observation platform for guided educational tours, workshops, and research viewing.
- Scientific Contribution: Support ongoing serval behavior and welfare studies in a semi-wild environment to expand knowledge of the species’ needs in captivity and conservation planning.
- Community Engagement: Increase awareness of exotic animal welfare and habitat conservation through educational programs and partnerships with local schools, universities, and conservation groups.
Project Design and Implementation
- Phase 1: Site Preparation (Months 1–3)
- Clear and prepare land while preserving existing natural vegetation.
- Install fencing with safety barriers and natural topography for enrichment.
- Phase 2: Habitat Construction (Months 4–8)
- Add climbing structures, shaded rest areas, fresh water sources, and varied landscapes such as grassy plains and brush zones.
- Create spaces for servals to explore, hide, and exhibit hunting behaviors.
- Phase 3: Educational Platform and Infrastructure (Months 9–12)
- Construct a viewing platform accessible to visitors, students, and researchers.
- Include interpretive signage, educational displays, and audio guides.
- Integrate pathways and benches for comfort while maintaining minimal stress for the animals.
Protect and Care for
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