First ‘pure’ wildcat captured on film at Aberdeenshire estate

0 Conservationists say the wildcat seen here scores 21/21 for purity, based on coat markings A “pure” Scottish wildcat, feared to be extinct, has been captured on film for the first time, say conservationists.

They claim the elusive animal, which was recorded on a private estate in Aberdeenshire, is the first living cat to have achieved the maximum score on an officially accepted identification checklist.

The Scottish wildcat, the UK’S only surviving native feline, is one of Europe’s most endangered mammals.

The biggest threat to its existence comes from cross-breeding with domestic and stray cats that share its territory.

Scientists have estimated there could be as few as 35 purebred individuals left, though others say the species has already been hybridised into extinction.

The latest footage was captured earlier this year in the Huntly area by local man Kevin Bell, who was volunteering for privately run conservation group Wildcat Haven.

Field workers have named the rare cat Phoenix because it signifies the species has “risen from the dead”.

Phoenix was first spotted around two years ago and is thought to be one of at least ten true wildcats living in the area.

“It feels a bit like looking at a unicorn,” said Dr Paul O’donoghue, chief scientific adviser for Wildcat Haven .

“This animal is so often described as extinct, bordering on mythical, but we have always been confident they’re still out there, and here’s the evidence coming from quite an unexpected place.

“No-one has ever seen a wildcat this good in the wild before. It shows no signs of hybridisation and proves that Scotland’s iconic wildcat, an incredible survivor, is still out there despite all odds.”

A state-backed emergency plan, Scottish Wildcat Action (SWA), has been launched to halt decline of the species by 2020.

Work, which includes a trap, neuter, vaccinate and release programme for feral cats, is focused on six priority areas identified as potential wildcat hotspots – including Strathbogie in Aberdeenshire.

Dr Andrew Kitchener is principal curator of vertebrate biology at National Museums Scotland, a partner organisation in the SWA group. He devised 21-point scoring system to define a wildcat.

“The animal displays a number of characteristics of the Scottish wildcat, however not all of the characteristics which are used to identify the Scottish wildcat are visible in the video,” he said.

He says only genetic testing, which has not been carried out, can confirmed if the cat is purebred.