A new report out today brings good news for wildlife lovers: the South West of England could once again become home to European wildcats, after more than a century without them.
It’s a big step forward for the UK’s most endangered mammal – and the population of the area is largely on board, says the South West Wildcat Project, with 80% of locals supporting their return.
Currently only a sub-population exists in Scotland – the Scottish wildcat. Although, it is even possible that there are no wildcats in Scotland that don’t have some domestic cat ancestry: historically, they were threatened by habitat loss and persecution, but today the main threat is hybridisation with domestic cats.
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The two-year South West Wildcat Project study – led by Devon Wildlife Trust with partners including Forestry England and the Derek Gow Consultancy – looked at the possibility of wildcat reintroduction to the area, and how it would impact communities, wildlife, farming and long-term sustainability.
The results, study leaders said, are encouraging. The study found that a sustainable population of wildcats could flourish in the South West, and that 80% of people surveyed in the region were positive about their reintroduction.
The report reveals:
· The South West contains enough woodland cover connected by other suitable habitat to support a sustainable wildcat population.
· A significant majority of people in the South West feel positive about wildcat reintroduction to their region.
· Wildcats pose no threat to people, domestic pets or farming livestock, such as lambs. The report said that commercial and domestic poultry can be protected from wildcats with the same precautions deployed for existing predators such as foxes.
Cath Jeffs, South West Wildcat Project lead at Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s exciting that this report suggests wildcats could be part of the region’s nature once again. The return of this critically endangered species would be another step in the restoration of our native wildlife and will help re-balance local ecosystems.
“Wildcats were once a widespread part of our countryside and today they remain an important part of woodlands throughout continental Europe including Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
“A lot of work remains to be done before the first wildcats could be released in the South West. Honest and open dialogue with stakeholders will be key to making sure the species and local communities could thrive alongside one another in the future.”
The report also highlights two key areas that a future reintroduction project will need to tackle to make it a success:
1. Hybridisation with feral and domestic cats threatens the species’ genetic integrity, so teams must work with communities and cat welfare groups to support neutering programmes in areas where wildcats are expected to live.
2. A reintroduction project must also prioritise strong community engagement, including a post-release management programme to address issues if they emerge.
Once known as 'woodcats', European wildcats were common across the South West until habitat loss and centuries of persecution pushed them out around 100 years ago. Now, thanks to growing support and healthier landscapes, their comeback may be within reach.
Read the full report at: www.devonwildlifetrust.org/south-west-wildcat-project.
Join the online talk, 'Wildcats: could the UK’s rarest mammal make a return to Devon?’, at 6pm on 4th December. Register at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/events.
Top image: Tom Mason
