yes I believe so, based on what to do with the trapped ferals.....one camp say neuter and release, the other say shoot and release...
The neuter brigade have pretty poor argument for their policy but they are out and out cat lovers whatever label the moggy has.
Its a bit deeper than that. The initial fracture between the Wildcat Haven people and the Wildcat Action Plan goes back way before the catch neuter release vs catch and p.t.s debate. It started with a falling out about genetics; in particular a genetic test.
There are two differing views on what is the best direction to take for the future prosperity of the SWC. I come from a zoo background with a passion for the conservation of our native species. My take on it is why would you release a neutered animal into a potential SWC territory so that the SWC cat has more competition ?
It was hoped that there was still a pool of genetically pure SWC living in the wild. So far this has not been the case, none have been found. To be fair the search and funding has only been concentrated on a small number of areas of Scotland. The SWCs living wild that have been genetically tested are not looking very good compared to the purity of the SWCs already in captivity.
My view is the way to save the SWC is via an intensive captive breeding program, for preference this would be from wild caught genetically pure SWCs, taken into captivity into specifically designed and built very large enclosures with minimal human interference. Breed from these cats and then take the kits which will have been captive born and house them in more suitable accommodation which aids in the breeding process. Build up a healthy breeding population and then start introducing them back to the wild. This is a very expensive and time consuming process. The reintroductions would take a massive amount of research.
The main stumbling block with this is in finding the genetically pure Wildcats. If there are none left do we start a breeding program based on for example cats that are 90% pure ? I am not from a science background and may well be corrected on this but by a process called back breeding I believe it is possible to create a pure wildcat from a 90%.
Small organisations like my own are doing as much as possible for wildcat conservation, 80% of our conservation budget is going on SWCs. Apparently there is no genetic difference between a central European Wildcat and a SWC. I have continually asked the question as to why we should not restock from Europe.
There are currently numerous law suits being threatened in regards the SWC conservation. Seems bloody stupid when egos (one in particular) get in the way of saving a critically endangered species.
Regards