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Scottish Wildcats could be extinct within 2 years

StaceySkyStaceySky Posts: 570
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in General Discussion #1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22610869

"Recent estimates suggest that fewer than 100 remain, making it one of the rarest animals in the world.

"Unless decisive action is taken, the wildcat could be declared extinct with the next 12 to 24 months."


I find this very sad as I am a animal lover, wild and domestic cats being my favourite.
Wish there was something that I could do.
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Comments

  • Dwight WrightDwight Wright Posts: 1,572
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    #2
    99.9% of all animals that have lived on earth are extinct
  • Pumping IronPumping Iron Posts: 29,891
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    #3
    I guess its time to round up the remaining few and stick them in captivity.
  • Trsvis_BickleTrsvis_Bickle Posts: 9,202
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    #4
    Yes, it's a real shame that they're almost gone. They're now so rare that some biologists who specialise in the species have never seen one. Beautiful animals and it's great to think we have a real wildcat on our little island.
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    #5
    I love our wildcats, it's really sad it's come to this. I hate to say it but I agree...time to catch as many as possible, given how elusive they are, and increase the breeding programme to get numbers up for release.
  • Trsvis_BickleTrsvis_Bickle Posts: 9,202
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    #6
    Pumping Iron wrote: »
    I guess its time to round up the remaining few and stick them in captivity.

    I think we do have some in captivity. A couple of years ago, some animal rights loonies stole a pair from a zoo and 'released' them into the wild, where they undoubtedly died shortly afterwards.
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    #7
    There are several in captivity, I've visited 3 or 4 places. I'm assuming they're already part of a breeding plan.
  • PrimalIcePrimalIce Posts: 2,897
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    #8
    Well they will keep going on strike.....
  • GlowbotGlowbot Posts: 14,847
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    #9
    But they aren't properly extinct if they are breeding with other cats are they.
  • SigurdSigurd Posts: 26,610
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    #10
    There are already captive breeding programmes — most of them in England, it seems. See "Captive breeding centres" on this page:

    http://scottishwildcats.co.uk/breeding.html

    Since the main problem in the survival of pure wildcats appears to be interbreeding with feral domestic cats, maybe there should be a more determined programme to kill feral cats in the Highland countryside?

    I bet that would be a popular move and a real vote-winner for the SNP! :D
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 16,986
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    #11
    And do feral Salmonds while they are at it. :eek:
  • dee123dee123 Posts: 46,252
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    #12
    :o I didn't even know they had them.
  • bluebladeblueblade Posts: 88,859
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    #13
    StaceySky wrote: »
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22610869

    "Recent estimates suggest that fewer than 100 remain, making it one of the rarest animals in the world.

    "Unless decisive action is taken, the wildcat could be declared extinct with the next 12 to 24 months."


    I find this very sad as I am a animal lover, wild and domestic cats being my favourite.
    Wish there was something that I could do.

    Yes, really very sad.

    The chief threat seems to be from interbreeding with domestic & feral cats.
  • StaceySkyStaceySky Posts: 570
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    #14
    blueblade wrote: »
    Yes, really very sad.

    The chief threat seems to be from interbreeding with domestic & feral cats.
    Yep and disease
  • StaceySkyStaceySky Posts: 570
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    #15
    Aarghawasp! wrote: »
    I love our wildcats, it's really sad it's come to this. I hate to say it but I agree...time to catch as many as possible, given how elusive they are, and increase the breeding programme to get numbers up for release.
    Yep, I hate to say it too but this might be the only way to keep them going. But then again releasing them back into the wild can still threaten the species as they are breeding with feral domestic cats.
    Something needs to be down with the feral domestic cats. That will higher the survival of the species.
  • O'NeillO'Neill Posts: 8,721
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    #16
    If they were a Tiger or Leopard subspecies there'd be a worldwide breeding programme, and tv adverts asking to donate. Not that I'm saying they deserve to be more, but equally something should be done.

    I've seen them for sale some years ago, I'd imagine the chances were that they were hybrids though, they were around £800, I'd think true ones would cost a lot more?
  • StaceySkyStaceySky Posts: 570
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    #17
    O'Neill wrote: »
    If they were a Tiger or Leopard subspecies there'd be a worldwide breeding programme, and tv adverts asking to donate. Not that I'm saying they deserve to be more, but equally something should be done.

    I've seen them for sale some years ago, I'd imagine the chances were that they were hybrids though, they were around £800, I'd think true ones would cost a lot more?
    Yeah it trues. I believe they should all be treated equally.

    They probably make out that they are pure bred when they most probably aren't.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 4,223
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    #18
    I saw one last week in Edinburgh Zoo. :)
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    #19
    Agreed.
    StaceySky wrote: »
    Yep, I hate to say it too but this might be the only way to keep them going. But then again releasing them back into the wild can still threaten the species as they are breeding with feral domestic cats.
    Something needs to be down with the feral domestic cats. That will higher the survival of the species.

    Agreed.
  • StaceySkyStaceySky Posts: 570
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    #20
    River 07 wrote: »
    I saw one last week in Edinburgh Zoo. :)
    I went to Edinburgh in September but I can't remember them having Scottish Wildcats.
  • Phil 2804Phil 2804 Posts: 21,846
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    #21
    blueblade wrote: »
    Yes, really very sad.

    The chief threat seems to be from interbreeding with domestic & feral cats.

    Many years ago we had a cat called Bandit. You only had to look at him to know his father must have been a wildcat.
  • ElectraElectra Posts: 55,660
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    #22
    There's a wildlife centre in Perthshire, called Auchingarrich, that has Scottish Wild Cats. Last time I was there, about three years ago, they had kittens.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 4,223
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    #23
    StaceySky wrote: »
    I went to Edinburgh in September but I can't remember them having Scottish Wildcats.

    They are right after the leopards's.
    Not easy to spot.

    http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals/individuals/highlandwildlifepark/scottishwildcat.html
  • benjaminibenjamini Posts: 32,066
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    #24
    Sadly the ones left in the wild are possibly no longer pure as they breed with domestic cats.
  • StaceySkyStaceySky Posts: 570
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    #25
    River 07 wrote: »
    They are right after the leopards's.
    Not easy to spot.

    http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals/individuals/highlandwildlifepark/scottishwildcat.html
    Aww I must have missed them
  • benjaminibenjamini Posts: 32,066
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    #26
    Electra wrote: »
    There's a wildlife centre in Perthshire, called Auchingarrich, that has Scottish Wild Cats. Last time I was there, about three years ago, they had kittens.

    Very close to where I live.:)
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