In early September, villagers near Shidu in Fangshan discovered a leopard-like animal, a serval cat native to the African steppe. The Municipal Landscaping Bureau, with the assistance of the Animal Protection Society, rescued him, and now the guest has resumed eating. Experts suggest that the breeding of "exotic pets" should be prohibited and non-native species should be strictly prevented from forming wild populations.
"At first, when the serval cat came to us, there was some stress reaction." The relevant person in charge of the Municipal Wildlife Rescue Center told reporters that this stress response is a normal phenomenon. In order to provide a better environment, the safari rescue station in Daxing temporarily took over the serval cat.
The keeper tried to feed it with a variety of foods, and later found that the serval cat had a soft spot for rabbit legs and had to chop them up to feed, which may be related to its previous feeding habits. "On the third day after our rescue, it began to eat normally, mainly rabbit legs and chicken." The person in charge said that the serval cat now often stretches its waist, "which is a manifestation of its adaptation to the new environment." ”
This serval cat is 60 cm long, and compared with domestic cats, it has a large body and strong bouncing power. This creature lives on the African savannah and is the champion of the animals in the high jump. Separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, why did it appear in Beijing?
After receiving the capture of the serval cat, the Municipal Landscaping Bureau urgently carried out verification of the city's wild animal breeding and utilization units, and found that no serval cat escape occurred. Zhang Zhiming, director of the Wildlife and Wetlands Protection Division, said that it is likely to be a "foreign pet" cultivated without permission, and it has appeared in the wilderness outside Beijing due to escape or abandonment.
Although it is not an indigenous species, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Wild Fauna and Flora, which China has acceded to, the serval cat has been approved as a national second-level key protected animal for protection and management.
According to international practice, the serval cat cannot be sent back to its home in Africa, but can only live in Beijing. Since it is not an indigenous species, it will be used for scientific research and missionary purposes and will not be released back into the wild.
"Once the public finds strange species in the wild, do not get too close, let alone catch it on their own, but report to the competent authorities at the first time, and scientific rescue is carried out by a capable and qualified team." Zhang Zhiming said that the city will also carry out strict law enforcement against illegal acts such as domestication, breeding, trading and transportation of wild animals.
【Dialogue】
Deng Wenhong, Professor of the School of Life Sciences of Beijing Normal University
Reporter: Please briefly introduce the habits of serval cats.
Deng Wenhong: The typical habitat of the serval cat is grassland, which mainly preys on rodents, but also finds that it will cooperate in preying on antelope and sometimes birds.
Reporter: Does it hurt people in the wild?
Deng Wenhong: There is such a possibility. Even domestic cats have the potential to attack people during confrontations.
Reporter: When the serval cat appeared in the wild in Beijing, what impact will it have on the ecology?
Deng Wenhong: The serval cat found in Fangshan now is only an individual, but it is worth our vigilance. Once it forms a population in the wild, it will have an impact on other cats. For example, the local ocelot in Beijing, whether it is ecological niche, food, and habitat, is very similar to the serval cat, and the two will compete.
Reporter: How many non-native species exist in China at present?
Deng Wenhong: At present, there are more than 400 kinds of animals and plants in the country that are non-native species, and the situation in some southern cities is more serious, and Beijing is not too typical. A total of 36 plants and more than 20 species of animals have been found in Beijing to be non-native species.
Some non-native species are highly competitive. Take the black swan, it belongs to the near-human species, not afraid of the stage, compared with the beijing local giant swans, small swans, warty swans, more survivable, easy to seize the ecological niche.
Reporter: What is your suggestion for this?
Deng Wenhong: Beijing is one of the most biodiverse metropolises. Each of us must protect the integrity of the ecosystem and strictly prohibit the breeding of "exotic pets".
Photo by He Jianyong