saving the scottish wildcat
By zteve t evans
Time is running out for the Scottish wildcat, conservationists warn. It could be extinct within a matter of months if last ditch efforts to save the rarest mammal in Britain are unsuccessful.
The Scottish Wildcat
The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia), is very similar to a domestic tabby but have a broad tail with black bands. They are much bigger and stronger and are renowned for their ferocity and have a reputation for being untameable.
It has out lived the bear, wolf, and the lynx to become Britain’s largest wild predator. Once virtually the whole of Britain’s mainland was the hunting ground for the wildcat but now only small, scattered populations in the remote regions of Scotland remain.
Wildcats facing extinction
Also some times known as the highland tiger, gamekeepers, road accidents and interbreeding with feral and domestic cats have brought it be mere months from possible extinction. Conservations believe there may only a few hundred true bred Scottish wildcats alive today in the wild and what ever happens this year will be decisive in their survival.
For the first time a national and unified approach by a range of government agencies working together with gamekeepers, national parks and charities is now being enacted. The belief is that with determined and concerted action they can be saved and their populations brought to a healthy and sustainable level.
The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia), is very similar to a domestic tabby but have a broad tail with black bands. They are much bigger and stronger and are renowned for their ferocity and have a reputation for being untameable.
It has out lived the bear, wolf, and the lynx to become Britain’s largest wild predator. Once virtually the whole of Britain’s mainland was the hunting ground for the wildcat but now only small, scattered populations in the remote regions of Scotland remain.
Wildcats facing extinction
Also some times known as the highland tiger, gamekeepers, road accidents and interbreeding with feral and domestic cats have brought it be mere months from possible extinction. Conservations believe there may only a few hundred true bred Scottish wildcats alive today in the wild and what ever happens this year will be decisive in their survival.
For the first time a national and unified approach by a range of government agencies working together with gamekeepers, national parks and charities is now being enacted. The belief is that with determined and concerted action they can be saved and their populations brought to a healthy and sustainable level.
Unified action to conserve the wildcat
The best estimate of present wildcat numbers come from surveys by the Royal Zoolological Society the Forestry Commission and Scottish National Heritage estimate the Scottish wildcat population to be around 400 true wildcats that are not the result of interbreeding with feral or hybrid cats. Some charities and other agencies dispute this pointing out that it is a nocturnal and secretive animal. Also because of interbreeding it resemble closely feral and hybrid cats. They think the true population figure may be even lower.
Once a population is identified conservations will look at the possibilities of neutering domestic cats to reduce risk of interbreeding and work with landowners to find ways to diminish the risks to wildcats. Also being considered is a captive breeding program and moving wildcats to safer areas and to improve the overall distribution of the species.
Can the Scottish wildcat be saved?
The Cairngorms National Park is the present stronghold of the wildcat and there has been a program of conservation in place for around three years which is planned to become the model for a national program. If this fails then the Scottish wildcat will surely become extinct.
© zteve t evans
The best estimate of present wildcat numbers come from surveys by the Royal Zoolological Society the Forestry Commission and Scottish National Heritage estimate the Scottish wildcat population to be around 400 true wildcats that are not the result of interbreeding with feral or hybrid cats. Some charities and other agencies dispute this pointing out that it is a nocturnal and secretive animal. Also because of interbreeding it resemble closely feral and hybrid cats. They think the true population figure may be even lower.
Once a population is identified conservations will look at the possibilities of neutering domestic cats to reduce risk of interbreeding and work with landowners to find ways to diminish the risks to wildcats. Also being considered is a captive breeding program and moving wildcats to safer areas and to improve the overall distribution of the species.
Can the Scottish wildcat be saved?
The Cairngorms National Park is the present stronghold of the wildcat and there has been a program of conservation in place for around three years which is planned to become the model for a national program. If this fails then the Scottish wildcat will surely become extinct.
© zteve t evans
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Copyright zteve t evans
Copyright zteve t evans