The Buffalo Zoo did a presentation on African wildcats in 145B Student Union on Monday courtesy of the Circle K Club.
Dave Bringham and Robin Sanecki of the Buffalo Zoo brought with them a display of cougar, leopard and tiger skulls and lion and tiger pelts as well as a live serval named Bob.
Servals are wildcats found in the grasslands south of the Sahara dessert. They are medium-sized cats with long and slender limbs, tan fur and dark spots. Bob is a 12-year-old serval who was raised in captivity.
Bringham explained that Bob was abandoned by his mother as a baby and was brought to the zoo. He was bottle fed and trained by operant conditioning, a positive reinforcement training where animals are rewarded with a treat for following various targets when given a command.
"We need for them to be target trained so we can have them move around, for cleaning cages, weighing and veterinary care," Bringham said.
According to Bringham, though servals tend to be high-energy animals that are easily stressed, Bob is mellower. He used Bob's brother, whom he was raised with as an example.
"Bob is more laid back," Bringham said. "When I come, Bob tends to rub against the bars while his brother will hiss at me."
During the presentation Bob paid little attention to the audience, being more focused on eating the treats Bringham provided him.
Bringham noted that while Bob's rearing in captivity may have contributed to his more docile affect, he is still very much a wildcat.
"Even though he's lived his life in the zoo, he still has his natural abilities," said Bringham.
According to Bringham, the zoo sets up Bob's habitat and those of the other animals in a method called enrichment, which allows them to use their natural instincts.
"We try to change things up in the exhibit for enrichment - put up new scenery, new scents, so they will notice."
They also put live prey in the habitat for Bob to hunt such as small rodents, birds, lizards, snakes and frogs that would be his usual diet in the wild.
According to Bringham, exotic cats can live to be about 20 years old, but that is mostly found in those raised in captivity where they benefit from a steady diet, no predatory threats and veterinary care.
Most cats living in the wild live to be about 15 years old. There are many aspects that threaten their lives in the wild, one of the biggest being poaching, the illegal hunting of wild animals for skins, food and body parts.
"In Asia, some people still practice ancient medicines where they think a tiger's claws will give them power," Bringham said.
Another major issue that affects the livelihood of wildcats such a servals is people who try to keep them as pets.
"Many people try to get exotics like these as pets and when they can't handle them they try to give them to zoos and we can't always take them," Bringham said.
However, Bringham noted that there are many animal rescue shelters that cater to wild animals when owners cannot care for them.
Circle K is a community service club that has worked with such charities as Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House as well several SA community service events.
According to Amber Ross, vice president of Circle K, they planned this event because of a general interest in animals.
"I love animals and I know a lot of people do too," she said. "I thought it would be something fun."
Circle K meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. in 145D Student Union.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
