A The recruitment of men to the
armed forces during the conflict
in Europe from 1914 to 1918 meant
there was very little persecution, since
gamekeepers went off to fight. As the
number of gamekeepers decreased,
the wildcat began to increase its range,
recolonising many of its former haunts.
Extinction was narrowly averted.
B The wildcat waits for a while in rapt
concentration, ears twitching and eyes
watching, seeing everything and
hearing everything, trying to detect the
tell-tale movement of a vole or a
mouse. But there is nothing, and in
another leap he disappears into the
gloom.
C The results, which are expected shortly,
will be fascinating. But anyone who
has seen a wildcat will be in little doubt
that there is indeed a unique and
distinctive animal living in the Scottish
Highlands, whatever his background.
D They probably used deciduous and
coniferous woodland for shelter,
particularly in winter, and hunted over
more open areas such as forest edge,
open woodland, thickets and scrub,
grassy areas and marsh. The wildcat
was probably driven into more
mountainous areas by a combination of
deforestation and persecution.
E As the animals emerge, their curiosity
is aroused by every movement and
rustle in the vegetation. Later they will
accompany their mother on hunting
trips, learning quickly, and soon
become adept hunters themselves.
F This is what makes many people think
that the wildcat is a species in its own
right. Research currently being
undertaken by Scottish Natural
Heritage is investigating whether the
wildcat really is distinct from its homeliving
cousin, or whether it is nothing
more than a wild-living form of the
domestic cat.
G It is a typical image most folk have of
the beast, but it is very much a false
one, for the wildcat is little more than a
bigger version of the domestic cat, and
probably shows his anger as often.