Wildcats Eyed for Comeback in South West England

According to a recent report, conservationists have identified the South West region of England as an ideal location for the reintroduction of wildcats, the UK's most threatened mammal. As of November 2025, surveys conducted by the University of Exeter found that the vast majority of locals in the region, around 71% of the 1,000 people surveyed, were supportive of the idea of wildcats returning to the area where they once roamed.

In another survey by the same university, more than four-fifths (83%) of the 1,425 respondents expressed support for the reintroduction of wildcats. Conservationists have determined that there is sufficient woodland in the South West to sustain a thriving population of these elusive felines. Importantly, wildcats pose no threat to humans, pets, or other endangered species like bats and hazel dormice, and can be protected using the same measures used to keep poultry safe from foxes.

The return of this critically endangered species would be a significant step in restoring the region's natural heritage, helping to rebalance local ecosystems. Cath Jeffs of the Devon Wildlife Trust, who leads the South West Wildcat Project, stated that "the return of this critically endangered species would be another step in the restoration of our native wildlife."