THE EUROPEAN WILDCAT IN THE POLLINO NATIONAL PARK: WORK IN PROGRESS

In Pollino National Park (PNP) is being held a study whose aim is to define, on a genetic base, the conservation status of the European Wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber 1777, and to check if there could be found, in short or long-term, risk evidences for its survival: proximity/superimposition of its home range with anthropic activities such as contacts with domestic cats (cross-breeding) or passages across driveways (road casualties) are highly probable. The study was carried out through a gradual and integrated approach of camera-traps and the collection of non-invasive biological samples (hair collecting) at first, and later capturing in-vivo specimen to be submitted to health control and genetic analysis. To all the captured individuals, belonging to the subspecies silvestris, was applied a radio collar GPS-GSM to define their home range composition.