Alberta woman fined $15,000 for illegal possession of exotic serval cat

An Alberta woman has been fined $15,000 for possessing a serval cat, which is illegal in the province. The cat was seized on November 30, 2023, after authorities executed a warrant at her home in Okotoks. The woman pleaded guilty to violating the Wildlife Act. She had brought the serval from British Columbia, where ownership is legal, to care for it during her health treatment. The cat has since been placed in the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Servals are wild cats native to Africa and can pose safety risks. Alberta Fish and Wildlife notes that fines for illegal possession can reach up to $50,000.