Certainly, I know that Andrew Kitchener has expressed doubt about the distinctiveness of grampia.
I don't dispute that persecution, habitat loss and hybridisation are threatening something very special in Northern Scotland; my query is whether or not holders of "Scottish" wildcats can, or can't, usefully work alongside holders of "European" animals.
Do you mean he thinks they are not distinct from the European races?
I think because of its special place as one of the Uk's rarest animals, and the only wild Cat, that efforts should continue to maintain 'grampia' wherever possible independantly of the European population.
Whether or not the true, untainted Scottish Wildcat in its pure form can manage to survive in this\day and age remains to be seen, but they seem to be working on it with an active programme to eradicate/neuter hybrids and feral cats in the relevant regions.
