Diet of serval Felis serval in a highland region of Natal

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Serval Felis serval diet was determined using faecal analysis. A combination of quantification techniques best illustrated the relative importance of various prey species. Small mammals (Rodentia and Insectivora) accounted for 94% of prey item occurrences. Otomys irroratus was the most important prey species in terms of biomass and number. There was no evidence for servals eating lambs or other medium-sized mammals in the study area. ********** AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tierboskat Felis serval se dieet is deur middel van misanalises bepaal. 'n Kombinasie van kwantitatiewe tegnieke illustreer ten beste die relatiewe belangrikheid van verskeie prooispesies. Van die prooi-items kon 94% aan klein soogdiere (Rodentia en Insectivora) toegereken word. Otomys irroratus was die belangrikste prooispesie in terme van biomassa en getalle. Daar was geen getuienis daarvan dat tierboskatte skaaplammers of ander middel-groottesoogdiere in die studiegebied vreet nie.