The National Agency for Water and Forests Explanation Concerning the Roaming Serval In Tangier

The search to locate the serval, spotted in a forest on the outskirts of Tangier, is still ongoing, according to the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF). Efforts are also continuing to identify the source and the arrival of the serval in the Sloukia forest, considering that this endangered species of felines is only found in zoos, where it lives in captivity.

Following information relayed by certain electronic sites regarding the presence of the serval on the outskirts of the Sloukia forest (Cap Spartel) near Tangier, the National Agency for Water and Forests has launched, in partnership with local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie, a large-scale search operation for this animal to verify the accuracy of this information.

This operation involved field searches in the reported areas as well as in the surrounding areas to find traces of this animal and gather information from residents, intended to be analyzed by experts.

The Agency noted that its teams continue their field search operations, remaining vigilant to intervene and respond to any observations or reports of this animal. In this regard, it affirmed that efforts are ongoing to identify the source and mode of arrival of the serval in the Sloukia forest, emphasizing that the serval is only found in zoos, where it lives in captivity.

As part of the "Forests of Morocco 2020-2030" strategy, particularly regarding the conservation of endangered species, the Agency is implementing a set of programs aimed at preserving these species and their habitats, as well as reintroducing some extinct species into their original areas.

These programs include an action plan dedicated to the conservation of the serval, including its reintroduction into its natural habitat in the Ifrane National Park, noting that the serval is endangered in Morocco and can be found in certain regions, notably from Guelmim to Oued Drâa, and from Ait Ouabelli in the east to Oued Noun/Assaka at the edge of the Western Atlas Mountains in the north.

In the Middle Atlas, the serval can be found in the Ifrane region to Ouaouizeght, with two recent documented observations in 2013 and 2014. The serval is generally present in Africa, notably south of the Sahara Desert, in the form of small isolated groups in North Africa. The impact of the serval on local populations and the environment is generally limited, due to its small size and primarily hunting small prey such as rodents.

Furthermore, the Agency affirmed that the serval does not pose a direct threat to humans, but can even be beneficial by helping regulate rodent populations that could become harmful to agriculture or public health in case of overpopulation.

It is noteworthy that the serval is classified in the second appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and that any activity related to this species is subject to prior authorization from the ANEF, in accordance with Law No. 29.05 concerning the protection of species of wild fauna and flora and the control of their trade.