IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Sforzi, A.; Bizzarri, L.; Ragni, B.; Paoloni, D. | |
| Reconstitution of an European wildcat viable population in the Maremma regional park: a twenty years experience | |
| 2008 Conference Proceeding | |
The conservation status of the European wildcat was poorly known in Maremma (Southern Tuscany, Italy) till the beginning of '70s. In 1974, as a result of a local survey, RENZONI defined the species as critically endangered in the area. Following this alarming report, in 1988 our research group started a study in the Maremma Regional Park (MRP) to investigate on the presence of Felis s. silvestris and, possibly, gather information on its conservation status. At the end of 1989, the first field investigations didn't produce any reliable data on the presence of the species in MRP. It might be hence considered at that time as extinct or present at very low population density. Primary cause of such situation could be probably found in the direct persecution carried out on predators before the institution of the Park, settled in 1975. To enhance the reconstitution of a viable population, in 1990 a translocation project was started. Two adults of Felis s. silvestris (a male, M0 and a female, F0) were caught in a dense woodland area few kilometres from the Park (where, on the contrary, historical and recent data confirmed a stable presence of the species) and released in the MRP after an acclimatisation period. Both individuals were equipped with radio tags and monitored by radio telemetry. To take trace of the evolution of the population, field surveys, as well as trapping session, were regularly carried out in the following years. In 1995 two males (M1 and M2) were captured in MRP followed, in 1998, by other 2 individuals (F1 and M3) and a recapture of M1. All the specimens were monitored through radio telemetry. In July 1999 the project was interrupted because of severe lack of funds. Seven years later, on October 2006, another monitoring session was carried out, and four different individuals were caught: 3 males and 1 female. Almost twenty years after the first surveys, the most important goal of the project seems to have been reached. |
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