According to the Red Book of Mammals, the wildcat is Endangered in Portugal and it is estimated that there are less than 100 adult individuals, and this is the first confirmed record for the Greater Côa Valley, outside the Serra da Malcata, in more than 30 years, although there have been some sporadic unconfirmed observations. Habitat loss and hybridisation with domestic cats are its biggest conservation problems. In parts of Europe such as Scotland, 88 per cent of wildcats have domestic cat genes. We are losing the genetic uniqueness of this species and urgent action is needed to conserve this unique animal!
The wildcat in question was first recorded using cameratraps, but this method is not infallible in itself, as ‘it is very difficult to distinguish this species from a domestic cat with a wild phenotype,’ says Pedro Ribeiro, the Rewilding Portugal biologist involved in this discovery, which is why, after consulting ICNF specialists, a field survey was carried out, where it was possible to find droppings.
‘When I saw the first photo of this cat, I almost jumped out of my chair! It’s extremely rare to find wildcats in Portugal, and especially in the Côa region,’ the biologist tells us about the first moment when the identification seemed to be confirmed, even before the genetic tests through the droppings, which would happen later. It’s not uncommon to photograph domestic and feral cats in the countryside using this type of camera, as these animals can live dozens of kilometres from the nearest human settlements and can even have a negative impact on wild populations of birds, reptiles and mammals. They also compete for territory with the native wildcat and hybridise with this species, diluting their wild genetics, especially when we’re talking about an endangered species like in this case.
The droppings were then sent for genetic analysis as part of a collaboration with CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS at the University of Porto, where the CONGEN group, coordinated by Paulo Célio Alves, is carrying out a study on the genetic diversity and degree of hybridisation of the wildcat at an Iberian level. Analysing molecular markers of nuclear DNA allowed us to genetically confirm that the animal was indeed a wildcat, the first record in one of our rewilding areas in the Greater Côa Valley. One of the aims of rewilding areas is to act as refuges where wildlife can find the necessary conditions to thrive, and these findings indicate that they are indeed fulfilling this function.
The wildcat is Endangered in Portugal and it is estimated that there are less than 100 adult individuals left, a critical situation that needs to be reversed by starting to work with this species immediately. The largest populations in the Iberian Peninsula are in northern Spain, but experts are talking about a silent extinction at Iberian level, mainly in southern Portugal and Spain, but also in other regions of Europe. Habitat loss and hybridisation with domestic cats are among its biggest conservation problems. There is an urgent need to take action to recover the wildcat in the Iberian Peninsula and Rewilding Portugal will start by supporting the sterilisation of domestic cats in the vicinity of the area where the wildcat was recorded, to avoid the risk of hybridisation.