Scottish wildcats are in danger because of crossbreeding with domestic cats

There are total only around 400 Scottish wildcats remaining.
Scientists have warned the species is under threat because of cross-breeding with domestic and feral cats. Without immediately actions, they can be wiped out in a decade.





Video on BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17831818

More information on Scottish Wildcats.
http://www.scottishwildcats.co.uk/

Damn, that's pretty near to extinction. Although the thread makes me think of this video I watched recently:





Do you not think it's possible to save the Scottish wildcats using such methods? As described, the kitten only has the wildcat genes.

We still need a good number of the wildcats in order to have enough genetic diversity for restoring their population. I can see by implant the fertilized eggs of wildcats into domestic cats, you can produce more of the wildcats. Probably it is easier if produce them in test tubes. However, I think if the wildcats are born to a domestic cat mother, their natural behavior might change. They will monkey see monkey do by using their mother as example.

That usually takes many generations for a change to happen, so I'm sure if they're released into the wild eventually it will be a good solution.

It has always been hard to reintroduce captivity animals back to the wild. They never had the chance to be taught by their parents on how to survive in the wild, or survive on their own in general.

This might be off topic, but I have seen a video of over 20 tigers (in captivity) couldn't take down a domestic bull together. That is some "king of the jungles".