10 Aug 2021

Travelers along the A1 Road between Francistown and Tati Siding were shocked by a rare sight of a serval (Tshipa) that was suspected to have been hit by a vehicle at night.

Chief wildlife ranger, Mr Keabetse Mhiko, said they quickly responded to a report since there was fear that the animal could endanger the lives of people crossing to nearby ranches. 

Mr Mhiko said tshipa or tshipalore, which is from the wildcat family, was a protected species. 

He said the animal did not pose any threat to human beings, except when infected with rabies. 

He added that the animal was also not a threat to livestock because it fed on squirrels, rats and rodents. 

The animal, he said, usually hunted in tall grasses or other vegetation, during the night 

Although servals may be seen to be not aggressive to humans, Mr Mhiko said, it was possible for any injured animal to charge at people. 

One of the onlookers, Mr Jentles Mnindwa said the animal was not easy to find around the village or in the bush, adding that he suspected it resided in the nearby hills and fed on rats, mice, squirrels and rodents. 

Mr Mnindwa expressed concern that as people wanted to have a good look at the animal and take pictures, they forgot social distancing and some were not even wearing masks. ends