Louisiana firefighters rescue illegal African serval during house fire

Louisiana firefighters responding to a minor blaze at a residence in the Marrero suburb of New Orleans on Tuesday discovered an African serval—a wildcat native to sub‑Saharan Africa—confined in a chain‑linked enclosure behind the home. The animal, which was found in a structure resembling a cramped baseball batting cage, was subdued by the crew and subsequently handed over to a local animal‑welfare agency for care.

Officials from the animal‑protection service confirmed the serval was being kept illegally and is now being transferred to a specialized facility where it will receive appropriate treatment. The agency is working to place the cat in a suitable environment that meets its species‑specific needs, while authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of its unlawful captivity.