According to new research, the Scottish wildcat population is on the verge of extinction, with most wild-living cats becoming hybrids.
NatureScot’s five-year investigation concluded that there are too few wildcats in the country for a viable population.
It stated that hybridisation, which occurs when wildcats breed with feral or domestic cats, was a severe threat to the species.
Other threats mentioned include disease and habitat loss.
Lorna Slater, Minister for Biodiversity, stated that the very existence of an iconic and well-loved species was threatened.
The current study represents the completion of the Scottish Wildcat Action project, which spanned from 2015 to 2020 and was led by Scotland’s nature agency NatureScot.
The study team has provided recommendations on how to save the species in a series of new publications.
They include the release of captive-bred wildcats in specific areas, as well as efforts to neuter hybrid and feral cats and improve habitat.
The initiative conducted surveys in priority regions – areas where conservation action may be focused.
It also performed genetic tests on 529 cat samples, but none of them scored high enough to be classified as wildcats.
Almost 118 dead cats, more than half of them killed on roads, were also studied but none proved to be wildcats.
Researchers said they had found no recent evidence of wildcats from public sightings, camera-trap surveys or road-killed cats in the Highlands north of Lairg in Sutherland.
They also said there was scant evidence of any wildcats in Argyll and the Trossachs.
Plan to restore species
The National Lottery Heritage Fund-funded investigation found that wildcats, wildcat hybrids, and domestic cats had mated freely for several generations since the 1960s, resulting in a hybrid swarm.
Ms Slater stated that the Scottish government is dedicated to safeguarding and restoring Scotland’s natural environment.
She stated, “Reversing the dramatic losses in nature that we have seen in recent times is one of the defining challenges that our country faces.”
Dr. Roo Campbell, NatureScot’s mammal adviser, said the five-year effort was just getting started in restoring Scotland’s wildcat population.
“The ultimate goal must be to establish a population of wildcats that does not require additional human intervention to ensure its survival,” he stated.
“The ultimate goal must be to establish a population of wildcats that does not require additional human intervention to ensure its survival,” he stated.
“We’re hopeful that we can achieve this by working together now to protect and restore this iconic species for generations to come.”
Last month, a licence was approved for the release in the Cairngorms National Park of Scottish wildcats bred in captivity by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
RZSS head of conservation Dr Helen Senn said: “These reports show that wildcats are truly on the brink of extinction in Britain, and that a significant amount of work still needs to be done to secure a future for the Scottish wildcat population.”
