THE JOURNEY BEGINS: TWO REHABILITATED SERVALS TAKE THEIR NEXT STEPS TOWARD FREEDOM

This month, a significant milestone was reached for two young servals who had been under the expert care of FreeMe Wildlife. After months of rehabilitation, they embarked on their next big journey: from the quiet sanctuary of FreeMe Wildlife to a soft release enclosure in the wilds of Wild Tomorrow’s Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. This soft release marks a powerful collaboration between FreeMe Wildlife and Wild Tomorrow—and a hopeful new beginning for two wild cats.

One of the two female servals taking their first steps into the soft release enclosure.

The day began just after sunrise, with the skilled FreeMe Wildlife team preparing for a delicate operation. The servals were coaxed into smaller holding pens the night before. After being skillfully netted by FreeMe Wildlife staff and under the experienced hand of wildlife vet Dr. Dave Gibbs, each serval was sedated for a full physical examination. 

The two servals in the clinic’s examination room, ready to be fitted with their satellite collars.

In the clinic’s examination room, biometrics were recorded: weights, lengths, dental condition, and general health metrics. Blood samples were drawn for further lab analysis and rabies vaccines were administered. Wild Tomorrow proudly sponsored the satellite collars, which were securely fitted during this time. These collars will allow our joint teams to monitor their movements, behaviors, and adaptation to their new home, forming the backbone of a research project that aims to deepen our understanding of post-rehabilitation success in servals. 

John Steward, co-founder of Wild Tomorrow, was present throughout the day, witnessing firsthand the culmination of months of dedicated care. “It was such an honor to be close to them, watching them get ready for the biggest chapter of their lives. We’re so happy to be the location FreeMe chose to give these special cats a second chance at a wild life”. 

Once the medical work was completed and the servals began to stir from sedation, they were carefully transported on a five-hour journey to Ukuwela in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa—a long but vital trip that brought them closer to their new wild home. But the journey was not without complications. Recent, persistent rains had taken their toll on the land. Several poles of the enclosure had shifted, requiring on-the-spot improvisations from the team. The roads to the enclosure cut through black cotton soil, which, when wet, becomes especially difficult to navigate. The vehicle transporting the servals became stuck in the mud, briefly delaying the final stretch of their journey. After navigating these challenges—including the temporary erection of holding pens and a mud-filled adventure—the servals were finally released into the soft enclosure at sunrise a day later. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a beautiful moment—quiet, golden, and filled with a shared sense of hope for their future. 

The soft release enclosure on the reserve offers these two lucky servals a chance to gradually adjust to their natural surroundings. In our region, the presence of predators such as leopards makes soft release enclosures particularly important—they help acclimatize the servals to these potential threats before full release to increase their chance of survival. In time, they will be fully released onto the greater reserve, free to roam the protected habitat Wild Tomorrow has worked so hard to conserve. 

This journey is far from over. With the aid of the satellite tracking collars and ongoing support from both organizations, we will continue to track and study the servals as they adapt to life in the wild. This effort is a testament to what’s possible when rehabilitation, science, and conservation come together with a shared purpose. 

Stay tuned for more updates as we follow the adventures of these two beautiful servals in their new home. 

Wild Tomorrow is raising funds to support the serval project including support for FreeMe Wildlife to fund food and enrichment for the servals while in their care, and for the GPS tracking collars needed for post-release tracking.