A brand new report printed on 18 November reveals that the South West of England might assist a reintroduction of European wildcats after greater than a 100-year absence from the realm, marking an important subsequent step in serving to to safe the way forward for the UK’s most critically endangered mammal.
The research finds {that a} sustainable inhabitants of wildcats might flourish within the South West and that 80% of individuals surveyed within the area have been constructive about their reintroduction.
The excellent two-year investigation, undertaken by the South West Wildcat Venture – a partnership of organisations led by Devon Wildlife Belief which incorporates Forestry England and the Derek Gow Consultancy – concentrated its evaluation on 4 most important facets of wildcat reintroduction: 1) impacts on folks and communities; 2) impacts on different wildlife; 3) impacts on farming livestock and pets; and 4) the long-term sustainability of a wildcat inhabitants after reintroduction.
European wildcats – traditionally also referred to as ‘woodcats’ – have been as soon as widespread within the South West, together with many different components of England, Scotland and Wales. Nevertheless, centuries of persecution, plus the loss and fragmentation of their favoured woodland and tough grassland habitats noticed them disappear throughout a lot of their vary. The South West’s final wildcats are thought to have survived till the mid-nineteenth century.
Cath Jeffs, South West Wildcat Venture lead at Devon Wildlife Belief, says:
“It’s thrilling that this report suggests wildcats may very well be a part of the area’s nature as soon as once more. The return of this critically endangered species can be one other step within the restoration of our native wildlife and can assist re-balance native ecosystems.
“Wildcats have been as soon as a widespread a part of our countryside and immediately they continue to be an vital a part of woodlands all through continental Europe together with Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
“Plenty of work stays to be finished earlier than the primary wildcats may very well be launched within the South West. Trustworthy and open dialogue with stakeholders might be key to creating positive the species and native communities might thrive alongside each other sooner or later.”
Right this moment the UK’s solely remaining wildcats dwell within the Highlands of Scotland. Regardless of being given protected standing in 1988 wildcats at the moment are classed as ‘critically endangered’ and liable to extinction with as few as 115 people remaining within the wild. The Saving Wildcats mission was established in 2020 to bolster the animal’s numbers in Scotland.
In response to the animal’s precarious state of affairs, earlier preliminary analysis into restoring wildcats past their Scottish base by the Vincent Wildlife Belief (VWT) concluded that the South West could present the very best mixture of situations wanted to re-establish the native animal in England.
The South West Wildcat Venture was subsequently established in 2023 to research the feasibility of a reintroduction to the area. Its report, printed immediately, concludes:
- The South West accommodates sufficient woodland cowl linked by different appropriate habitat to assist a sustainable wildcat inhabitants. It highlights a well-connected panorama of habitat throughout mid Devon as probably probably the most appropriate for reintroductions to happen.
- A big majority of individuals within the South West expressed constructive views in direction of wildcat reintroduction to their area. Two separate surveys have been carried out by unbiased researchers on the College of Exeter. In a single, 71% of 1,000 folks (consultant of the age and gender of the area’s inhabitants) favored the thought of wildcat return. Within the different, 83% of 1,425 who responded to a web based questionnaire expressed positivity in direction of wildcat reintroduction.
- Wildcats pose no vital threat to current endangered wildlife populations akin to bats and dormice. Wildcat diets think about widespread generally discovered species, with 75% of their prey consisting of small mammals together with voles, rats, wooden mice and rabbits. Their presence would assist ‘stability’ current ecosystems by returning a lacking predator which co-evolved alongside native wildlife.
- Wildcats pose no risk to folks, home pets or farming livestock akin to lambs. Business and home poultry might be shielded from wildcats with the identical precautions deployed for current predators akin to foxes.
The report additionally identifies two areas which a future reintroduction mission ought to handle to make sure success:
- Hybridisation (interbreeding) between wildcats and feral/home cats has turn into a current problem for the present wildcat populations in Scotland, threatening the genetic safety of the species. The report concludes that, to succeed, a reintroduction mission within the South West should handle this by working with native communities and cat welfare organisations to assist a neutering programme for feral/home cats in areas the place wildcats might be current.
- A future reintroduction mission should additionally prioritise engagement with native communities and stakeholders. It ought to set up open and ongoing communication with those that have considerations about wildcats. It proposes a monitoring and administration programme which is able to function after reintroduction, addressing points if and the place they come up.
Whereas there aren’t any quick plans to launch wildcats, Devon Wildlife Belief and its companions are dedicated to growing plans for reintroduction. This contains securing funding to make sure the very best probability of success.
The South West Wildcat’s full report is accessible to learn on the Devon Wildlife Belief web site, together with a abstract report and FAQs about wildcats www.devonwildlifetrust.org/south-west-wildcat-project
Devon Wildlife Belief’s Cath Jeffs might be giving an on-line discuss ‘Wildcats: might the UK’s rarest mammal make a return to Devon?’ at 6pm on Thursday 4th December. To register without spending a dime go to www.devonwildlifetrust.org/occasions
