Wildcat release

JohnC6

JohnC6

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European wildcats are about to be released into the English countryside for the first time in more than 200 years. They were hunted to extinction for their thick dense, hair. Between 40-60 will be released in Devon and Cornwall in coastal shrubland and dense forests to prey on vermin and rabbits. Is there a problem with vermin and rabbits in these counties ? The cats were bred on a farm in Lifton, Devon using five pairs which were given by the Royal Zooligical Society of Scotland.

Some reports of this state that they became extinct 100- 200-500 years ago. The report I read had it at 200 years ago. You'd think there would be a definitive consensus on that.

About them: http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=101
 
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It's all part of the rewilding movement which could eventually lead to Lynx being released as well, Wolf and Bear releases are the ultimate end.
Derek Gow is the guy you're speaking of, I've met him a few times and he's a very well respected conservationist initially he worked with water Voles and then Beavers. He also has photography sessions at his farm Coombeshead
He's a good friend of Roy Dennis who has been the catalyst for Red Squirell, Red Kite, Osprey and White tailed Sea Eagle releases.
An awful lot of what he talks makes sense, Knepp Estate were another early adopter Isabella Trees book Rewilding tells the story of how their struggling dairy farm has become a beacon for nature.
 
billy nomates said:
It's all part of the rewilding movement which could eventually lead to Lynx being released as well, Wolf and Bear releases are the ultimate end.
Derek Gow is the guy you're speaking of, I've met him a few times and he's a very well respected conservationist initially he worked with water Voles and then Beavers. He also has photography sessions at his farm Coombeshead
He's a good friend of Roy Dennis who has been the catalyst for Red Squirell, Red Kite, Osprey and White tailed Sea Eagle releases.
An awful lot of what he talks makes sense, Knepp Estate were another early adopter Isabella Trees book Rewilding tells the story of how their struggling dairy farm has become a beacon for nature.
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Yes, you 're right. It's Derek Gow.
 
Hasn't part of the proble, with releasing the wildcats that the will breed with domestic cats ?

There has been a lot of work done of breeding only the purest cats they could find to bring the native Scottish wildcats back due to this problem so I guess the european wild cats isn't so threatened ?
 
Gremlin said:
Hasn't part of the proble, with releasing the wildcats that the will breed with domestic cats ?

There has been a lot of work done of breeding only the purest cats they could find to bring the native Scottish wildcats back due to this problem so I guess the european wild cats isn't so threatened ?
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That's what I thought.

Seems European wildcat and the Scottish wildcat are the same animal or very closely related. This Wiki page ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_wildcat ) has Felis sylvestris as the European wildcat whereas this page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_wildcat ) has the Scottish wildcat as Felis sylvestris sylvestris. But on the same page is -

Since 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the Cat Specialist Group recognizes Felis silvestris silvestris as the valid scientific name for all European wildcat populations and F. s. grampia as a synonym, arguing that it is doubtful that the Scottish wildcat is sufficiently distinct to accord it separate subspecific status.

If the wild cats in Scotland have suffered from breeding with domestic cats it might/must be a potential problem for the releases in Devon and Cornwall.

Dave
 
Tringa said:
If the wild cats in Scotland have suffered from breeding with domestic cats it might/must be a potential problem for the releases in Devon and Cornwall.
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Thanks for that, I understood that when.if a release does take place in Sctoland it will be in a large enclosed arra ?

Speaking as someone who has been in close proximity in an enclosure to a scottish wild cat I sure as hell would try and steer clear in the wild :eek:
 
The general consensus seems to be that that given the option between another wildcat and a domesticated animal a wildcat has a major preference for its own breed. The hybridizing issue is more commonly due to low numbers of suitable mates, this has been proven in a study in the Belgium to Germany area using DNA sampled from road kills and hair samples which showed only a 3.5% F1 or F2 genetic marker.
 
billy nomates said:
The general consensus seems to be that that given the option between another wildcat and a domesticated animal a wildcat has a major preference for its own breed. The hybridizing issue is more commonly due to low numbers of suitable mates, this has been proven in a study in the Belgium to Germany area using DNA sampled from road kills and hair samples which showed only a 3.5% F1 or F2 genetic marker.
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That's very interesting but could you explain the bit about the genetic marker, please?
 
billy nomates said:
It's all part of the rewilding movement which could eventually lead to Lynx being released as well, Wolf and Bear releases are the ultimate end.
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Utter madness in my opinion but I have no say in the matter.
 
jerry12953 said:
That's very interesting but could you explain the bit about the genetic marker, please?
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Sorry I'm not a scientist, but my simplistic layman's understanding is that hybrids can be categorised F1,F2,F3 and onwards - F1 being a 1st generation hybrid - pure wildcat x domestic, F2 would be wildcat hybrid x pure wildcat - effectively 1/4 domestic genetically and F3 1/8 domestic.
You may be better served by talking to Derek directly, he's fairly responsive on twitter.
 
billy nomates said:
The general consensus seems to be that that given the option between another wildcat and a domesticated animal a wildcat has a major preference for its own breed. The hybridizing issue is more commonly due to low numbers of suitable mates,
Click to expand...

So it will depend on how many they release, how contained they are and how close to any human habitation likte farms that may have feral cats etc.
 
billy nomates said:
Sorry I'm not a scientist, but my simplistic layman's understanding is that hybrids can be categorised F1,F2,F3 and onwards - F1 being a 1st generation hybrid - pure wildcat x domestic, F2 would be wildcat hybrid x pure wildcat - effectively 1/4 domestic genetically and F3 1/8 domestic.
You may be better served by talking to Derek directly, he's fairly responsive on twitter.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That makes sense!

......... and, referring to your earlier post, Isabella Tree's book is a really excellent and thought provoking. Although isn't it called "Wilding" rather than "rewilding"?
 
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