Final Red Book assessment for the wild cat Felis silvestris in Europe, sponsored by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, highlights a troubling outlook for this small feline in the Iberian Peninsula. The core finding is a dramatic fragmentation of populations across Spain and Portugal. The study also reveals significant knowledge gaps, especially about abundance and long term trends.
In response, a cross border group of experts from both nations will convene a technical meeting early in 2022 to gather up to date information on the species status and to map a plan that can help reverse the decline.
Various conservation teams working with the species in Spain and Portugal shared the most recent regional data and reached a clear conclusion: the species currently exists in two contrasting states within the region. In the north and northeast, the wild cat appears reasonably widespread with relatively high densities. In contrast, the southern and central parts of the Peninsula show low occupancy, extreme fragmentation, and very low population density. Reports from agencies emphasize this duality and regional disparity.
Distribution map of the wildcat in the Iberian Peninsula is a key visual referenced by the IUCN.
Experts including Emilio Virgós, a biodiversity and conservation researcher at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, stress the urgency of clarifying the causes behind the widespread decline and of designing targeted conservation measures, particularly for the Mediterranean subpopulation.
pre extinctions scenario
Urgent actions will include compiling all available status and trends information, agreeing on standardized monitoring methods that allow periodic population assessments, evaluating the feasibility of regional conservation status assessments, and raising public and administrative awareness about the species. The analysis describes a pre extinction scenario for much of Iberia.
A national census of the species is currently underway with broad volunteer participation. The effort uses camera traps and aims to cover more than 120 sites across Spain, each site spanning roughly 2,000 hectares. This campaign represents a potential first quantitative diagnosis of the species in the current state of the country.
Researchers also identified key steps for conservation, including the creation of specialized working groups and regional assessments coordinated with the IUCN, along with an awareness campaign directed at the public and at decision makers to convey the status of the species.
Citation reference: IUCN Red List entry for the species and related assessments are acknowledged in support of these findings.
End of document notes
Related posts:
White Gaming Chair With Footrest The goalscorers of Lionel Scaloni’s cycle in the Argentina national team Cat Mattress & Carriers Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): The Future of SEO is Here Tidy Cats Cat Litter Coupons, Specials & Presents Popular Cat Breeds: A Global Look at Beloved Felines Hill’s Cat Food For Top Of The Range Diet Grok and the New Era of Transparent AI Development Best Cat Food For Kidney Disease Grok AI Bot Across Platforms: Telegram, iOS, and North American Use The World’s Most Exclusive and Expensive Cat Breeds Grok and xAI: Musk’s Real-Time AI Vision and Public Discussion