Dubai Police have taken custody of a serval cat after a resident voluntarily surrendered the animal through the Safe Hand initiative, an awareness programme designed to educate the public about the dangers and legal consequences of keeping wild species at home.
The individual contacted authorities after learning that possessing wild or dangerous animals can endanger people, harm the environment and result in legal penalties.
Following its handover, Dubai Police transferred the serval cat to Dubai Municipality to complete all required procedures.
Illegal ownership of dangerous animals
Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Khalifa Al Mazina Al Muhairi, Head of the Environmental and Heritage Crimes Control Section, said the Safe Hand initiative aims to raise awareness about the risks of owning dangerous animals without a licence.
He noted that the serval cat was surrendered after the individual understood these risks.
He stressed that authorities classify the serval as a dangerous animal and prohibit keeping it without official permission. By surrendering the animal through Safe Hand, the individual avoided legal penalties.
Lieutenant Colonel Al Muhairi commended the responsible behaviour and said it demonstrates the impact of ongoing awareness campaigns in helping the public understand environmental laws, the dangers of keeping wild animals, and the penalties for owning or trading restricted species.
He said: “These rules come under Federal Law No. (22) of 2016 Regulating the Possession of Dangerous Animals”. He added that Safe Hand provides safe and confidential channels for anyone who wishes to ask questions or voluntarily hand over dangerous animals.
Animal transferred to specialised care
Adel Abdullah Al Karrani, Director of the Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality and strategic partner of the initiative, said Safe Hand reflects the community’s growing understanding of the importance of protecting wildlife and preventing the unlicensed ownership or trade of predatory animals.
He noted that the serval cat is classified as a dangerous species and can pose risks to both people and the environment if kept in homes.
Al Karrani confirmed that Dubai Municipality has moved the animal to a specialised centre, where staff will assess its health and provide care in line with animal welfare standards and environmental procedures.
