New Perspectives on European Wildcat (<i>Felis silvestris</i>, Schreber 1777) Habitat Suitability in Britain: Integrating Fossil Records to Improve Baselines for Reintroduction.

ABSTRACT: In Britain, the European wildcat (Felis silvestris, Schreber 1777) is located exclusively in Scotland. Considered to be Critically Endangered, the Scottish population is on the brink of extinction due to continued population decline through anthropogenic activities, contact with domestic and feral cats and habitat loss. Urgent and effective conservation strategies, including breeding and translocation programs, are required to support existing populations and aid the species' recovery. Understanding the species' environmental requirements and identifying suitable areas for wildcat reintroductions is therefore essential. However, using the species' modern range characteristics for habitat suitability projections is problematic due to extensive range contraction, resulting in the wild

SUBMITTER: Mills M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12461118 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature