A CATFIGHT has broken out between two conservation groups after one released what it claimed was the first video of a pure-bred Scottish wildcat filmed in Aberdeenshire.
The video, which featured on The National website yesterday, was unveiled by Wildcat Haven, which describes itself as “a fieldwork conservation action plan” supported by “leading conservationists, naturalists, scientists” and local communities in the West Highlands”.
However, Scottish Wildcat Action, a partnership involving gexperts from over 20 key organisations, supported by the Scottish Government and Heritage Lottery Fund, described the Haven’s claim as “misleading”.
Wildcat Haven said it identified the cat it caught on film as pure-bred via a scale developed for the purpose. However, the expert who created the scale said only genetic testing could provide absolute confirmation.
A Scottish Wildcat Action spokesman said: “Scottish Wildcat Action has already been working with the local community in its Strathbogie ‘priority area’ for over two years.
“Therefore this latest claim is certainly not news to Scottish Wildcat Action, project officers, and the many partner organisations we work with. In autumn last year we detected 27 cats, six of which were identified as wildcat-based on their pelage scores. These cats were found in our Strathbogie wildcat priority area in Aber-deenshire. This information was publicly announced in September 2016 and was reported in the media. Since then a further four wildcats have been discovered in the area.”
Dr Andrew Kitchener, principal curator of vertebrate biology at National Museums Scotland, who devised the 21-point scoring system that defines a true wildcat, said: “Wildcat Haven approached me to comment on this video footage, which shows one cat in the wild. The animal displays a number of characteristics of the Scottish wildcat, however not all of the characteristics which are used to identify the Scottish wildcat are visible in the video.”
He said only genetic testing could confirm a wildcat’s purity.
However, Dr Paul O’Donoghue, chief scientific adviser for Wildcat Haven CIC said: “All the markings are perfect, no flaws whatsoever. We’ve named her Phoenix because she’s risen from the dead. I’ve seen a lot wildcats and this is the best example I’ve seen of a pure breed.”
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