Groovy23
Environmentalist
Reged: 09/08/06
Posts: 861
Loc: Central London, UK.
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Walkers in the Highlands are being asked to help discover the true numbers of one of Britain's most secretive creatures - the Scottish wildcat.
A wildcat and kitten at Wildwood Discovery Park, Kent
Wildcats in action
Wildcats became extinct in England and Wales 150 years ago but continues to be sighted in Scottish woods and moorland.
Some estimates suggest just 400 survive - although there could be up to 4,000.
Now Scottish Natural Heritage is asking everyone who uses the countryside to take part in a year-long survey and report sightings of the timid animal.
The conservation body hopes to assess numbers and distribution.
The count is being carried out as part of the Scottish Government's Species Action Framework and is an effort to safeguard the rare mammal.
Click here to watch video pt 1
Last survivor
Minister for Environment Michael Russell is due to launch the survey at the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kincraig, which has captive purebred wildcats.
However, Adrian Davies, who is co-ordinating the research, said it helped if people had seen a wildcat before and knew what they looked like.
He said: "There's obviously a number of occasions where it might actually be quite difficult to determine a wildcat.
"They're often seen at dusk and at dawn or in the dark so it can be quite difficult to determine what a wildcat is in the field."
The animal is the last surviving native member of the cat family to be found in the wild in Britain.
Click here to watch video pt 2
It has been listed in the Species Action Framework for conservation effort over the next five years in an attempt to improve its habitat and reduce threats of cross breeding with feral domestic cats.
The Scottish wildcat has survived by clinging on in habitat margins between mountain and moorland and forest and fields, preying on rabbits, small birds and mammals.
Source: BBC
BBC Springwatch
Scottish Wildcat Association
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diane9247
World Explorer
Reged: 01/15/07
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Loc: Californian stranded in Oregon
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What a beauty! I didn't know there was such an animal. I can see how they could easily be mistaken for feral domestics and eventually disappear from interbreeding. I hope not! 
Diane
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armoss
Gamer
Reged: 03/25/06
Posts: 505
Loc: W.Yorks A Tyke and proud of it...
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Nice post Groovy, I once saw a family of them a few years ago whilst on holiday in the Brora area of the Highlands. Unfortunately there were no digital cameras at that time and my 35m had just run out of film.
armoss 
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Groovy23
Environmentalist
Reged: 09/08/06
Posts: 861
Loc: Central London, UK.
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Thanks alot Diane and armoss
They are beautiful creatures indeed, and really need protecting.
Interbreeding is a big threat to them.
Armoss you were so lucky to see these rare and elusive cats 
Quote:
Unfortunately there were no digital cameras at that time and my 35m had just run out of film.
That's just typical!  But even with todays technology, your digital camera would have probably told you "memory card full"! 
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Edited by Groovy23 (06/24/08 01:48 PM)
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armoss
Gamer
Reged: 03/25/06
Posts: 505
Loc: W.Yorks A Tyke and proud of it...
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Yes , isn't that the truth. I was out walking just as it was starting to get dark, along the banks of Loch Brora and there they were in a small copse of trees. Two fully grown ones I took to be the parents and two kittens. I can only think they didn't see or hear me approach, as they made no move to go until I found my camera was u/s and I said one unprintable word and then they were off. I would have loved a picture.
armoss
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