Although Servalito did not show specific signs indicating that his FIP was progressing, he remained stable for nearly three years after the initial diagnosis.

The serval was found in October 2023 inside a transport cage that had been abandoned near the shelter's front door. Because it was the first recorded sighting of a serval in Costa Rica, authorities and wildlife specialists assumed the animal had been brought into the country by wildlife traffickers.

The rescue center said Servalito was likely a victim of the illegal wildlife trade and had been intended to be kept as a pet.

"His story highlights the risks involved: contact between wild, exotic cats and domestic cats can increase the risk of exposure to infectious agents and negatively impact the health and conservation of wildlife," the center said.

The serval is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, except in rainforest regions.

It is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands about 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 20 and 40 pounds.

The species is characterized by a small head, large ears and a golden-yellow to buff-colored coat marked with black spots and stripes. Its tail is short and black-tipped. Servals have the longest legs of any cat relative to their body size.

Servals are solitary carnivores that are active both during the day and at night. They prey on rodents, particularly vlei rats, as well as small birds, frogs, insects and reptiles. The cats rely heavily on their keen sense of hearing to locate prey.

The rescue center is also home to Costa Rica's only capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), with four specimens of the world's largest rodent species living at the facility.