Serval cat rehomed at Dartmoor Zoo after 'Britain's Tiger King' conviction

Dartmoor Zoo has announced it has rehomed a serval cat named Churchill after the Cat Survival Trust’s conviction and a court order for the rehoming of its animals. 

Churchill was rescued and brought to Dartmoor Zoo on Tuesday 21 January, following the legal proceedings surrounding Terrence Moore, the founder of the trust, who became known as 'Britain's Tiger King', drawing comparisons to the American animal park owner Joe Exotic.

Moore, 78, of Codicote Road, Welwyn in Hertfordshire, was convicted in May 2024 on four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals. 

The charges stemmed from Moore’s failure to seek proper veterinary care for the animals at the Cat Survival Trust, which he had founded in the 1970s. 

As a result of his actions, Moore was banned from keeping animals for five years.

Following the conviction, Moore was required to rehome the animals from his facility, including 28 big cats currently being housed at Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary. 

Dartmoor Zoo, in collaboration with these sanctuaries, took the opportunity to offer a new home to Churchill, a serval cat who has come from a difficult past.

Cam Whitnall, project lead at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “Our mission is to find these cats

the best possible forever homes. We only have weeks before the facility is closed for good, so we are working at speed to find them their forever homes. Unfortunately, not all will be able to be rehomed due to significant health issues, but we are committed to giving these beautiful creatures the care and dignity they deserve.”

James Cork, head keeper at Hertfordshire Zoo, added: “While we are dedicated to caring for these animals, our primary goal is to rehome them. In the meantime, we are focused on enhancing their quality of life by improving enclosure cleanliness, optimising their diets, and ensuring better weight management.”

Serval cats, though listed as ‘least concern’ by the IUCN Red List, face various threats, including poaching, illegal pet trade, and habitat loss. 

They are native to most of Africa, except for the Sahara Desert, and prefer savannas and wetlands.

Known for their long legs and neck, servals are often called ‘giraffe cats’ due to their distinctive appearance.

Dartmoor Zoo's chief executive, David Gibson, praised the work of Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary in stepping in to ensure the welfare of the rescued animals. 

“As soon as we found out about the situation at the Cat Survival Trust, we were very keen to see how we could help. We can’t praise the management and staff at Hertfordshire Zoo and the Big Cat Sanctuary enough for the commitment they have shown in stepping in and ensuring the welfare of the cats affected was prioritised. 

“We are delighted to be able to offer a new home for one of the animals and Churchill the male Serval will be a great addition to our collection,” he said.

During his 30-day quarantine, Churchill will be monitored closely by the keeper team to ensure his adjustment to the new environment. 

After this period, he will be introduced to a female serval from Port Lympne Zoo, Sabra, in a spacious outdoor enclosure. 

Further announcements will be made when the pair will be available for public viewing.

Dartmoor Zoo is seeking donations to support Churchill’s continued care.

David added: “If anyone felt able to make a donation to help with Churchill’s continued care, we would be most grateful as it would help us preserve our precious financial resources for the conservation work we are already committed to.”