These images have surprised even the most experienced biologists. In the dead of night in Germany's Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region, a wolf was filmed approaching a hollow tree. Its target was four small wildcat kittens hiding inside. But the predator hadn't counted on their mother!
The much larger wolf tried several times to reach the kittens. But the brave mother refused to be intimidated and kept the predator at bay. The outcome, as dawn broke, was surprising.
A fierce battle in the dead of night
A wildlife camera from the Deutsche Wildtierstiftung (German Wildlife Foundation) in Klepelshagen, Germany, recorded what happened next. For over 20 minutes, an unequal battle raged on. The mother, no bigger than a typical domestic cat, patrolled the tree trunk with her back arched and tail bristling.
In the end, her courage and unwavering commitment to her young paid off: the entire family was safe and sound. The wolf had given up. Later that day, the cautious mother moved her four kittens to a new, safer location. It's better to be safe than sorry, after all.
A remarkable comeback and new dangers
Biologist Malte Götz recently presented this sensational series of images to 300 people at an online conference. The footage comes from the "Wildcats in the North German Lowlands" telemetry project, which has been running since 2016. "The interest is huge," he reported.
These recordings are not just spectacular; they also hold significant scientific value. They prove that after an absence of around 200 years, wildcats are once again establishing themselves in the German regions of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "This is a fantastic development," the expert enthused.
The wildcat (Felis silvestris) had temporarily disappeared from Germany but is now reclaiming its former territory. An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 of them now live in German forests once more. However, sightings of this strictly protected species are rare. "They live very secretively," explains Kinser. This makes wildlife camera footage all the more valuable, as it offers a glimpse into the hidden lives of these elusive animals.
It isn't just wolves that wildcats have to contend with. Surprisingly, their biggest threat comes from domestic cats! There are between 11 and 12 million pet cats in Germany. When wildcats and domestic cats mate, they produce hybrids, and domestic cats can also pass diseases to their wild cousins. Road traffic, agriculture, and forestry, as well as predators like foxes and martens, also make life difficult for them.
Experts are making an urgent appeal to the public: if you find a wildcat kitten in the forest, you must not pick it up, even if it looks completely helpless. Mother wildcats often leave their kittens alone for up to twelve hours while they hunt. "As a rule, they always come back," insists Kinser.
