A long-absent menace resurfaces in Belarus after a century-long absence.
In the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, the elusive European wildcat has been making a comeback, expanding its range as far as the left bank of the Dnieper, according to modern data from Ukrainian scientists. This resurgence, however, does not seem to have extended to Belarus, where the wildcat was believed to have gone extinct in 1927.
Recent search results reveal no evidence of the European wildcat being spotted in Belarus since its believed extinction. While some information about wildcats is available in other regions or concerning different species, none of the results mention any recent sightings or rediscovery of the European wildcat in Belarus.
In June 2017, a European wildcat was registered in Belarus, although this registration could not be confirmed 100%. Until June 2025, there were no other confirmed registrations. The last record of the European wildcat in Belarus dates back to 1927.
The neighboring territory of Ukraine, specifically the Carpathian region, is the typical habitat for the European wildcat. Recent data suggests that the wildcat is approaching the borders of Belarus, indicating a possibility of natural migration.
In Ukraine, the European wildcat has distinctive dark stripes: four longer and one shorter on the neck, two parallel ones on the shoulders, and a narrow line down the middle of the back from the shoulder blades to the base of the tail. The wildcat's tail is short and bushy, with a blunt end and four dark rings.
A European wildcat was captured on camera in the Pripyat National Park, Belarus, in a piece of footage reviewed by specialists. The footage, taken with high video quality, also shows a badger and an Asian raccoon dog. The animals in the footage were filmed from the same angle, allowing for comparison of their sizes, with the European wildcat being larger than a domestic cat.
The Pripyat National Park plans to collect the European wildcat's fur by placing special scratching posts with attractive substances on the site where it was recorded. Genetic material needs to be studied to confirm that there were no signs of hybridization with a domestic cat.
Despite these sightings, the absence of the European wildcat in Belarus since 1927, according to current available data, remains confirmed.
The absence of confirmed registrations of the European wildcat in Belarus since 1927 continues to be a confirmed fact, according to current data. However, the Pripyat National Park has reported recent sightings of a European wildcat, potentially indicating a re-emergence in the region.
While the European wildcat is thriving in various environmental-science and health-and-wellness contexts, such as the forest-steppe zones of Ukraine, its status inBelarus remains a subject of science and debate.
