National Biodiversity Network
The Natural History Museum of Maremma, in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Network of ISPRA, launched in 2021 a national Citizen Science project for monitoring the wild cat (Felis silvestris), a rare, elusive species of great conservation value.
Data collection and sharing
The project involves both experts and citizens and follows the 10 principles of the European Citizen Science Association, promoting active participation in data collection and sharing. The collected observations are validated and made available through the National Biodiversity Network database, viewable on a map updated in real time.
The declared objectives
The main objective is to monitor the distribution of the two subspecies present in Italy:
• Felis silvestris silvestris (European wildcat)
• Felis silvestris lybica (Sardinian wildcat)
From December 2021 to August 2025, over 1.500 observations were collected. The reports are classified based on their level of reliability, including those confirmed through genetic analyses conducted by ISPRA's Conservation Genetics Department.
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