My name is Donna Mechel Whitaker. For over 40 years I have lived and worked with many different animals — servals, Bengals, Savannahs, wolves, horses, donkeys, chickens, and more. Through all those years, my passion for servals has always run the deepest. Their intelligence, curiosity, grace, and ability to form strong bonds with people continue to amaze me every day. That deep passion led me to establish the Serval Conservation and Educational Refuge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, lifelong care, and ethical conservation of servals and other exotic cats. One of my longtime dreams was to create a secure, transparent registry for pure species exotic cats. This dream became the ECHO Registry (Exotic Cat Heritage Organization).The Purpose of the ECHO Registry. The registry exists to:
- Provide accurate pedigrees and generational tracking, clearly showing how many generations each cat is removed from the wild.
- Help responsible breeders maintain complete breeding histories and prevent inbreeding.
- Document the level of domestication that pure species exotic cats have achieved over generations.
- Create a secure platform that blocks illegal and unethical breeders, protecting both the animals and the community.
Equally important, the ECHO Registry and Serval Refuge Swag (our print-on-demand shop) help generate much-needed funds to support the rescued servals already in my care. Caring for these beautiful cats is expensive — from specialized diets and veterinary care to large enclosures and lifelong sanctuary needs. Every purchase and every registered listing directly helps me provide the best possible life for the servals I have rescued.Through the Serval Conservation and Educational Refuge and the ECHO Registry, I am committed to rescue, education, conservation, and building a responsible future for exotic cats.Thank you for visiting our site and for any support you can offer — whether through the registry, shopping at Serval Refuge Swag, or simply spreading awareness. Your support truly makes a difference in the lives of these incredible animals.— Donna Mechel Whitaker
Founder, Serval Conservation and Educational Refuge & ECHO Registry