Manja, The Rare Melanistic Serval Cat Roams The Serengeti In Tanzania

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!