African Wildcat Breeding & Release Program
| Previously listed as endangered, the African Wildcat has recently been "down listed" to species "unknown", simply because little information exists on these animals, particularly in a savannah system. The greatest threat to these cats is loss of habitat and hybridisation with domestic cats. As a result, it is feared that few "pure" Wildcats remain in the wild. As the true African Wildcat resembles the domestic cat, the only accurate method of distinguishing the two is by DNA testing. The primary objective of this project was to release the offspring of DNA tested African Wildcat breeding pairs back into their natural environment where they could breed with those cats already on the reserve, thereby enhancing the genetic variability. To date, 10 offspring have been successfully reintroduced into the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. Makalali aims to engage in a long-term monitoring program to acquire data on the ranging, foraging and reproductive behaviour of these animals in a savannah environment. |  |