{"id":6770,"date":"2022-03-13T23:52:42","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T03:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illuzone.net\/?p=6770"},"modified":"2022-11-19T00:55:07","modified_gmt":"2022-11-19T05:55:07","slug":"manja-melanistic-serval-cat-roams-serengeti-in-tanzania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illuzone.net\/manja-melanistic-serval-cat-roams-serengeti-in-tanzania\/","title":{"rendered":"Manja, The Rare Melanistic Serval Cat Roams The Serengeti In Tanzania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Servals are wildcats that usually sport a cheetah-like coat with black spots, bands and stripes. But some dark-furred individuals can occur due to melanism, which is a unique trait carried by a recessive gene that causes excess production of the dark-colored pigment melanin in skin, feathers, and hair. Although serval cats are found in most African countries south of the Sahara, there are only four known locations on the east of the continent where one might come across a population of black servals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some sightings of black servals from Kenya and Tanzania have provided further evidence that there is in fact a healthy population of these unusually colored cats hiding out in the grasslands in East Africa. However, servals are notoriously elusive, so it can be a tricky task to determine exactly how many melanistic cats are roaming East Africa. It is said that if a black cat crosses one\u2019s path, this can bring misfortune. Indeed, black cats have often been regarded as a bad omen, and have been associated with witchcraft and evil. Nonetheless, spotting a melanistic serval cat in the wild is actually more like a stroke of good luck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manja, a gorgeous melanistic serval cat, was sighted in the grasslands of Namiri Plains in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The black serval cat is named “Manja” after the guide and naturalist of Asilia Africa (a safari company) who was the first to spot him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit:<\/em> Marc Mol<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit:<\/em> Marc Mol<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit:<\/em> Marc Mol<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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What a ‘normal’ serval looks like, with tawny-coloured fur and bold black or dark brown spots, bands and stripes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A normal serval
Credit: Mary McDonald \/ Minden Pictures<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A normal serval<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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According to the photographer Marc Mol, up until Manja was sighted, there were believed to have been only four other melanistic Servals seen in the wild in East Africa.
\u201cIn nearly 40 years and 50+ visits to this wonderful dark continent, never would I have thought such a sight possible. It’s difficult at the best of times to locate your normal “garden variety” serval, so finding this small cat was never going to be a simple task, and one I specifically spent 3 weeks tracking. Such a rare and special treat to witness this magical small predator hunting, gotta love those piercing golden eyes!\u201d the photographer mentioned on his blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read also:<\/strong> Stunningly Rare Albino And Leucistic Animals That Exist In The World<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manja is not only a rare sighting due to his melanism or because he inhabits an uncommon location for servals, but also because he has chosen the Namiri Plains to settle in. Known as the big cat haven of the Serengeti, the Namiri Plains is a territory ruled by lions and cheetahs, so it takes experience, knowledge and courage for our bold little cat to stand his ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit:<\/em> Marc Mol<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit:<\/em> Marc Mol<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Melanism affects at least 13 of the 37 known feline species worldwide, with Black panthers being perhaps the most famous of the melanistic cats. Panthers are not a separate species, but this is rather an umbrella term used to categorize dark-coated leopards in Africa and Asia, and jaguars in South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manja\u2019s dark coat is due to its melanistic condition, which results in the serval\u2019s usually golden, brown spotted coat to become completely black. This primarily happens in East Africa, in the highland regions, 2,000 m above sea level. Scientists have termed this phenomenon as \u2018thermal melanism hypothesis\u2019, which states that animals who live in higher altitudes \u2014 and therefore experience colder temperatures \u2014 are more likely to become melanistic. Their dark pigmentation would aid them to absorb more solar radiation, warm up more quickly, and maintain their activity levels. Also, this theory suggests that darker coloration can serve as an adaptive or functional advantage at high altitudes, as this increases protection against the sun\u2019s UV rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Katya Ignatiev<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Katya Ignatiev<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Melanistic individuals are normally spotted at higher elevations. However, Namiri Plains, at around 1,000 m above sea level, is located considerably lower than the normal altitude at which melanism prevails. Therefore, this theory does not hold in the case of the servals, as the latest sightings of these cats happened in lower-lying areas. It is believed that Manja travelled from the nearby Ngorongoro Crater to establish a new territory. What can be said is that there is still so much to learn about East Africa’s melanistic servals and this remains a mystery to be solved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: <\/strong>The Bat-eared Fox, A Stunning Fox From The African Savanna With Extraordinary Ears<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: George Benjamin<\/em> \/ @georgetheexplorer<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer George Benjamin is among the lucky ones to have had an encounter with Manja, back in October 2019.
“[I] can’t describe how mind-blowing this was… and still is,\u201d Benjamin had written on his Instagram. \u201cFor context, even seeing a \u201cnormal\u201d serval is tough. They\u2019re shy, secretive cats that tend to live in tall grasses \u2013 the perfect combination for staying unnoticed. Every time I\u2019ve been privileged enough to see them, my heart skips a beat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read also:<\/strong> Rare Baby Zebra Born With Polka Dots Instead Of Stripes In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, there was no guarantee that Manja would be able to produce melanistic kittens, should he find a mate. But in July 2020, it was reported that Manja had in fact secured a mate (due to his charming good looks!) and in mid-September 2020, melanistic serval kittens were born \u2013 an extremely unusual event to have occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Kabel Morgan<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Kabel Morgan<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most recent sighting was on the 6th August 2021 by wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas and his guide Keko, who were out in the plains doing some shots. Keko caught a glimpse of what he thought was a black serval. After searching the surroundings, they were amazed to find a black serval kitten, who was being quite shy and hiding in the bushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The black serval kitten playing with its ‘normal’ sibling<\/em>
Credit:<\/em> Will Burrard-Lucas<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit:<\/em> Will Burrard-Lucas<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Credit:<\/em> Will Burrard-Lucas<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Over the next few days, Will and Keko went back to the area in the hope of having a better view of the kitten. It was then that they stumbled upon the wonderful sighting of a \u2018normal\u2019 female serval and her two kittens, one with the ‘normal’ dark-spotted tanned fur and the other completely black. Indeed, Manja had produced his third melanistic serval kitten with his companion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read also:<\/strong> Rare Golden Possum Rescued In Australia Looks Like A Real-Life Pokemon. Meet Pikachu!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The mother serval with her two kittens<\/em>
Credit:<\/em> Will Burrard-Lucas<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The female serval (Manja’s companion) has a ‘normal’ golden colored fur with black spots and stripes<\/em>
Credit:<\/em> Will Burrard-Lucas<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Manja is now not only a celebrity in the Serengeti, but all around the world, and he has been featured in several esteemed publications, along with his images shared across social media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more articles:<\/h4>\n\n\n