Could Devon woods help save the wildcat?
WILDCATS could roam the Westcountry once again under proposals being drawn up by a conservation charity, writes Charlie Elder.
Devon Wildlife Trust is hiring a South West Wildcat Officer to examine the feasibility of reintroducing these native predators, which were driven to extinction in the south of England in the 16th century.
Wildcats were once found throughout mainland Britain, but hunting and habitat loss means they are now extremely rare and restricted to remote parts of Scotland.
Devon Wildlife Trust said: “A preliminary ecological reintroduction feasibility study has been carried out by Vincent Wildlife Trust. This concluded that there are regions which warrant further exploration for reintroduction, including the South West of England – Devon in particular – as well as North and West Wales.”
The wildcat officer role will involve ecological and social impact assessments and engagement with the public, exploring the potential for wildcat reintroduction. Peter Burgess, from Devon Wildlife Trust, told
The Guardian: “Preliminary feasibility studies have shown that there is really strong potential for them in the South West of England. Now we are bringing it to the next level, looking at any impact they would have on the ecosystem, and seeing if there is support in the local community.”
He added: “They used to be really widespread across the whole of the UK and are now our rarest mammal on the verge of extinction.”
It is thought that wildcats could bring ecological benefits. Their diet includes rodents and rabbits, and they do not pose a risk to livestock. In Scotland the main threat to wildcats is genetic extinction due to hybridisation with feral and domestic cats, while they are also at risk from feline disease, road collisions and habitat fragmentation.
Speaking to The Guardian, Derek Gow, a farmer turned rewilder based in Devon who is assisting with the project, said: “It’s a little animal which is very highly endangered and it is going to disappear from this island within our lifetimes if we don’t act now.”