Wildcat (Felis silvestris), chronicle of an announced disappearance

Spanish: Wildcat, Catalan: Gat feréstec, Galician: Gato bravo, Basque: Basakatua

The wild cat (Felis silvestris) It is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the Felidae family. It has a certain resemblance to the domestic cat, but it is more robust and wingspan. It is characterized by its brownish-gray coat, a black dorsal line that runs along its spine, short and strong limbs and a “stubby” tail with 2 or 3 black rings in its final part together with a kind of black ball of hair that distinguishes it from the domestic cat whose tails are narrower. It has hands and feet with retractable nails (4 toes and 5 fingers) with a three-lobed pad at the base and its imprint (very easily confused with that of the gineta) has a very characteristic circular appearance.

The habitat

About d

Distribution is represented in a large part of the Iberian Peninsula and is present in a wide variety of habitats. Appointments are recorded from sea level, preferably between 300-800m and up to 2250m in the Eastern Pyrenees. It lives in different environments, from forest masses and scrub to more or less steppe habitats. It likes to take refuge among lush and dense vegetation. Its hunting area is more inclined towards open areas such as areas of sparse scrub, forest clearing, fallow land or even in crops.

Threats

The wildcat has been persecuted and treated like vermin for many years for “causing harm” among hunting species. Among its main threats are the loss of their habitat conditioned by the hand of man, the hybridization with the domestic cat that causes genetic variability and the exchange of diseases between the wild cat and the domestic cat, selective and non-selective hunting methods (formerly traps and currently replaced by ties and trap cages with live bait), the fragmentation of their populations through the increase of railway infrastructures and roads, the reduction of populations of micromammals, rodents and rabbits and their diseases caused by a large number of viruses such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline coronavirus (FCoV).

Conservation measures

Studies are needed to know the distribution, situation and population trends at the provincial, regional and national levels, including factors related to hybridization. The absolute prohibition of the use of non-selective methods (ties and traps) currently used for the elimination of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). The total ban on chemical plant protection products that directly affect micromammal and other rodent populations. Proper management of the wild rabbit without the pressure of “conservation groups with their own interests”. Tighten laws for people who engage in their indirect persecution through poisoned baits. The conservation and improvement of their habitat and environmental education up to the circumstances so that new generations can continue to enjoy this beautiful and emblematic feline.

The latest data

Given the enormous difficulty and the high degree of precision needed to be able to distinguish individuals from F. silvestris and F. catus and the absence of specific censuses, the number of wild cat populations in the Iberian Peninsula is not known with certainty. Despite this, the wild cat is protected by Royal Decree 439/90 of those classified as “Special Interest”. Their populations are seriously threatened at the national level, but more particularly in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, where their situation is very, very worrying.

Some researchers and scientists already dare to speak out about “a silent disappearance” of this precious animal in our mountains and forests.

The wild cat (Felis silvestris) The original, the real one, the Bandai one, needs us. Help us to keep it!

References consulted:

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from Granada. Grenatense Act 3:43-53

Barja, I. and Bárcena, F. (2005). Distribution and abundance of wild cats (Felis
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Bernabeu, R.L. (2000). Economic evaluation of hunting in Castilla-La Mancha. Thesis
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Cano, C., Ayerza, P. and de la Hoz, J.F. (2006). Poison in Spain (1990-2005).
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Lozano, J. (2017). Wildcat — Felis silvestris. In: Virtual Encyclopedia of Spanish Vertebrates. Salvador, A., Barja, I. (Ed.). National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid. http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/

Survival and cause-specific mortality of European wildcat (Felis silvestris) across Europe

Author links open overlay panel Matteo LucaBastianelli^AB

Joseph Premier^ABCMathias Herrmann^DStefano Anile^AndPedro Monterroso^FTobias Kuemmerle^ghCarsten F. Dormann^ISabrina Streif^JSaskia Jerosch^KGötz Malt^lOlaf Simon^mMarcos Moléon^NJosé María Gil-Sanchez^NSoltbiró^orJasja Dekker^PAnal Lena Severon^DAxel Krannich^mKarsten Hupe^Q...Marco Heurich^AB

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et al. (2003), Oliveira et al. (2005), Pierpaoli et al. (2003), Ragni (1993), Ruiz-Garcia et al. (2001),
Stahl and Artois (1991), Virgós et al. (2002), Virgós and Travaini (2005)