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Elusive wildcats reappear in European forests
Once believed extinct in parts of Europe, the European wildcat is making a quiet comeback, with photographers and scientists capturing rare images of the secretive species in remote regions.
The 'ghost of the forests'
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris), a species resembling a stockier, bushier-tailed domestic tabby, has long evaded human detection. Its elusive nature earned it the nickname 'the ghost of the forests,' with populations thought to have vanished from several European countries during the 20th century.
Wildlife photographer Vladimír Čech Jr. described the wildcat as 'a rare creature living a life full of riddles.' In 2020, Čech trekked through snow in the Doupov Mountains, a restricted military zone in the Czech Republic, hoping to photograph the animal. The wildcat had been considered extinct in the country until trail cameras captured its presence in the late 2010s-though no high-quality images existed until Čech's expedition.
Scientific rediscovery across Europe
Approximately 140,000 European wildcats are estimated to roam across more than two dozen countries, though their shyness makes accurate counts difficult. In Austria, where the species was presumed extinct, camera traps later confirmed its survival. Similarly, in Italy, biologist Andrea De Giovanni unintentionally filmed a wildcat in 2020 while monitoring wolves in Chiapporato, an abandoned village in the Apennine Mountains.
'Other animals tend to follow the same trails through the forest. The wildcat goes wherever she wants to.'
Andrea De Giovanni, wildlife photographer
De Giovanni initially mistook the animal for a domestic cat before sending the footage to experts for confirmation. The discovery highlighted the wildcat's unpredictable movements, which make it harder to track than species with fixed routines.
Conservation challenges and breakthroughs
Jarmila Krojerová, a zoologist at the Czech Academy of Sciences, noted that wildcats were once widespread across the Czech Republic but disappeared due to hunting and habitat loss. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 1952, with modern records resuming only in 2011. Recent efforts, including camera traps and lure sticks treated with valerian tincture, have helped researchers identify individual wildcats by their unique coat patterns or DNA.
In Italy, Andrea Sforzi, director of the Maremma Natural History Museum, manages a database of over 1,600 wildcat images submitted by scientists and the public. He explained that conservation laws enacted in the late 20th century aided the species' recovery, though interbreeding with domestic cats and disease transmission remain threats.
New research reveals hidden behaviors
In February 2025, Czech researchers captured and fitted a male wildcat with a GPS collar in the Doupov Mountains, marking the first such effort in the country. Data from the collar revealed that wildcats roam far wider ranges than previously assumed-sometimes spanning dozens of square kilometers-and thrive in mosaic landscapes of forests, meadows, and clearings, rather than dense woodlands alone.
Krojerová emphasized that the wildcat's resemblance to domestic tabbies often leads to misidentification. In Hungary, hybrids have been spotted mingling with housecats, while in Germany, a 'fierce kitten' found in an animal shelter was later identified as a wildcat.
Abandoned villages become wildlife havens
Chiapporato, the Italian ghost village where De Giovanni filmed the wildcat, symbolizes a broader trend: as humans abandon rural areas, wildlife reclaims the space. The village, once home to lumberjacks and charcoal burners, now lies in ruins, with nature slowly overtaking the remnants of human life.
'As humans abandon the mountains, other species return-such as the wolf and the wildcat.'
Andrea De Giovanni
Sforzi confirmed that wildcats typically avoid human settlements but have adapted to Chiapporato, treating the abandoned structures as part of their natural habitat. Genetic analysis of hair samples later validated the species' presence in the area, though obtaining such samples remains challenging due to the wildcat's elusiveness.
Future steps in wildcat research
Photographers like Čech and scientists like Krojerová stress the importance of public awareness in conservation. High-quality images and GPS tracking provide critical insights into the wildcat's behavior, helping to protect its habitats. As research continues, the once-'ghostly' species is gradually stepping out of the shadows.
