A new mammal has been identified on the French island of Corsica, looking like a cross between a cat and a fox. It is hoped that this “cat-fox"—which has been legendary amongst locals for generations—can now be formally identified.
The large cat had been a legend in Corsica for years, before one was accidentally caught in a chicken coop in 2008 in Olcani in the north of the French island. Quoted in Metro, Chief Environmental Technician of the French Forest and Hunting Office (ONFCS), Pierre Bendetti said:
“We believe that it’s a wild natural species which was known but not
scientifically identified because it’s an extremely inconspicuous animal
with nocturnal habits. The cat-fox is part of our shepherd mythology.
From generation to generation, they told stories of how the forest cats
would attack the udders of their ewes and goats.”
The cat is different from a normal domesticated cat in a number of small ways. It is known in Corsican as the “ghjattu volpe”, the “chat renard” in French, and the “cat-fox” in English. RFI, the French current events radio broadcaster, describes it as being longer than an average cat (measuring around 90 cms) with larger ears, longer canine teeth and a black tuft on the end of its tail.
The centre has spent over 10 years trying to obtain more information on the animal. It used infrared traps to obtain hair, which established that the DNA of the “cat-fox” is different to the European wildcat on the continent. RFI reports that the ONCFS were then able to trap 16 of the creatures which live in the Asco Valley up to 2,500 meters above sea level.
The captured cats were tagged with electronic chips so that the centre could follow their movements; many of which have formed the basis for the study which was presented to the public this week. Benedetti’s aim is to see the species recognised and then protected.