Asian races
CR

Asian races

Felis silvestris

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_wildcat

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Wildcat faces severe threats from hybridization with domestic cats, which dilutes the genetic integrity of pure wildcat populations and represents one of the most significant conservation challenges for the species. Habitat fragmentation and loss due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, and infrastructure development have severely reduced suitable territory and isolated remaining populations. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but persecution by humans and competition with feral domestic cats continue to drive population declines.

Threat summary

Habitat

Wildcats occupy diverse habitats including deciduous and mixed forests, scrubland, grasslands, and rocky areas with adequate cover and prey availability. They prefer areas with low human disturbance, typically avoiding open agricultural landscapes and dense urban environments.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Leopardus pardalis

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Asian races classified as Critically Endangered?
Asian races is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Wildcat faces severe threats from hybridization with domestic cats, which dilutes the genetic integrity of pure wildcat populations and represents one of the most significant conservation challenges for the species. Habitat fragmentation and loss due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, and infrastructure development have severely reduced suitable territory and isolated remaining populations. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but persecution by humans and competition with feral domestic cats continue to drive population declines.
Where does Asian races live?
Asian races occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Asian races?
The main threats to Asian races are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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