Wildlife trust explores reintroduction of wildcats

Findings from the South West Wildcat Project will be reported by the end of 2024

A study has been launched to explore the feasibility of reintroducing European wildcats to the South West.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Vincent Wildlife Trust identified the area as having "the potential to support wildcats".

The Devon Wildlife Trust is leading the study, with the University of Exeter undertaking a public opinion survey on the idea.

No wildcat releases are currently planned.

'An exciting prospect'

Findings from the South West Wildcat Project will be reported by the end of 2024.

Cath Jeffs, Devon Wildlife Trust's South West Wildcat Project lead, said returning wildcats to the South West was "an exciting prospect" but could only be achieved with "the support of local communities".

She said: "We are hoping that lots of people will take part in the survey to help us understand both whether there would be support for bringing wildcats back, and any concerns and potential impacts that would need to be considered."

All residents in the South West are invited to take part in the survey which will be open until 23 May.

Wildcats historically lived throughout England and Wales until the mid-1800s, but became extinct.

A critically endangered wildcat population remains in Scotland and is the subject of conservation action.