Interesting to see a good example of a captive Scottish Wildcat from nearly 40 years ago, given the fuss and politics involved in trying to currently save them from extinction with captive breeding, and the critisism that all/most of the current captive stock are more or less hybrid stock (with domestic cat).
This individual looks to have a very good tail, good mouth colour(no white) and only the teeniest hint of white on the chest. I guess it would score pretty highly on today's 'pelage score' criteria. 19-20 perhaps?(out of 21)
I wonder if MH bred them and also whether its genes are still in the captive pool.
In the International Zoo Yearbook, which I checked before posting this shot, Widdington bred Felis sylvestris in 1977 - not grampica which was listed separately. Of course this animal might be a pure Scottish wildcat, but I suspect it was not.
In the International Zoo Yearbook, which I checked before posting this shot, Widdington bred Felis sylvestris in 1977 - not grampica which was listed separately.
Oops, I didn't read the title properly. I believe European wildcat has not suffered the same levels(any?) of hybridisation as grampica has, which might explain this individual's good appearance.
