WILDCAT (FELIS SILVESTRIS SCHREBER, 1777) IN UKRAINE: MODERN STATE OF THE POPULATIONS AND EASTWARDS..

I. Zagorodniuk1, M. Gavrilyuk2, M. Drebet3, I. Skilsky4, A. Andrusenko5, A. Pirkhal6 1 National Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine 15, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi St., Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine e-mail: zoozag@ukr.net 2 Bohdan Khmelnitsky National University of Cherkasy 81, Shevchenko Blvd., Cherkasy 18031, Ukraine 3 National Nature Park “Podilski Tovtry” 6, Polskyi Rynok Sq., Kamianets-Podilskyi 32301, Khmelnytsk Region, Ukraine 4 Chernivtsi Regional Museum, 28, O. Kobylianska St., Chernivtsi 58002, Ukraine 5 National Nature Park “Bugsky Hard” 83, Pervomaiska St., Mygia 55223, Pervomaisky District, Mykolaiv Region, Ukraine 6 Vinnytsia Regional Laboratory Centre, 11, Malynovskyi St., Vinnytsya 21100, Ukraine


INTRODUCTION
Wildcat (Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777) is a rare mammal species, included in the all editions of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (1980,1994,2009), and known in Ukraine mainly in most western regions. There are many threats for this species, from direct extermination to decreasing of food base, and from lost of habitats to hybridization with domestic cats. There are just a few special publications deal with this species in Ukraine, but most of them concern with morphological variability [14,21,[38][39] or separate records [23-24, 28 etc.].
While some researchers paid attention to hybridization between wild and domestic cats [14,27,40], other colleagues described just "clear" samples, without discussion about hybridization [30,39]. Currently, there is dominant viewpoint about absence of "true breeding lines" of wild cat (pure-bred wild cats) in Europe [27]. This point of view to the Carpathian population in Ukraine was also attributed [42]. Recent investigation of all available samples from Ukraine shown that up to 70 % of samples are hybrids (or free-ranging F. catus), and just 30 % are pure-bred F. silvestris [21].
Descriptions of the species range in the east of its geographical distribution are very pure and incomplete also. Some data appeared in general reviews of fauna (for ex., [4-5, 10, 26, 30-31, 37, 41]). There are a few brief notes about wildcats in nature [17,[22][23]28]. Important sources on population state and distribution in Ukraine are the sketches in all issues of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (RDBU) [1,20,24]. Main goal of this work is analysis of known records of Felis sylvestris in Ukraine (except Carpathians) during next period after RDBU last edition and preparation of prognosis deal with new changes of the species geographic ranges.

MATERIAL
Original data include samples of wildcat from some localities, including Bukovyna, both Western and Eastern Podillia, and several easternmost localities of wildcats geographical range in a whole, from Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad and Cherkasy Regions. For compared and analysis of new data, all known records of Felis sylvestris northwards and eastwards of the Carpathians were compiled. Codes of regions name used in cadastre: L -Lviv, V -Volyn, F -Ivano-Frankivsk, N -Chernivtsi, H -Khmelnytskyi, V -Vinnytsia, O -Odesa, M -Mykolaiv, K -Kirovohrad, R -Cherkasy regions.
It was very important task to select data on wildcat records from the records of feral respond to a wild type, but we had doubts in some data, asked for help from experts in morphology of wildcats (Dr. M. Rozhenko, I. Dykyy, V. Shelvinsky etc.). Conclusions about deviations from the wild type were made, nurseries were noted: color irregularities in the color of the muzzle, the deviations in the overall color tone, changing the proportions of the body (in particular, the relative length of the tail and paws) and other features. Both such cases are marked in the text (localities L1 and M4).
The map of species distribution was compiled using software MapInfo 7.0. Previous versions of maps of species distribution were borrowed from the I-III editions of the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Mentioned collections are attributed as: NNPM -National Museum of Natural History Ukr. Acad. Sci., ZMLU -Zoological Museum of Luhansk National University, ZMOU -Zoological Museum of Odesa National University. Skulls were measured using caliper.

FORMER REVIEWS OF SPECIES OCCURRENCE IN UKRAINE
Most of old publications a had style of short faunistic notes [6,33] or description of mammal fauna in a whole [8,30]. The maps of wildcat distribution in Ukraine under three successive editions of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (1980, 1994, and 2009) presented on the Figs. 1, A-C.
Old views of the species distribution in Ukraine are assumed wide distribution of wildcats in four regions: Polissia (North of Ukraine), Carpathians, western Podillia (West of Ukraine), and North-Western Black Sea Region (SW of Ukraine). ISSN 1996ISSN -4536 2014 1) Carpathian Region. Wildcat in this region was very widely described, and its range were described two times in details in review by K. Tatarynov in 1956 [30] (just designation of possible areas of distribution) and recently in the Red Data Book of the Ukrainian Carpathians [13] (17 localities on the map, without details). There are several particular publications, among them descriptions of new records in Carpathian National Park [7] and some records in Bukovyna [34].
2) Polissia. All old records in Volyn Region and Central Polissia up to Chernigiv Region in the East (for ex., [9], see: Fig. 1, A-B) are considered as erroneous and associated with feral domestic cats [21]. Despite this fact, some authors considered that Volyn Region (Western Polissia) was as a part of a wildcat geographical range (for ex., [30]: p. 97) 1 peared in Polissia [32]. However, it is not true: there were several modern records of wildcats in the Western Polissia, incl. territory of the Shatsk National Park (I. Horban', in the edge of forest near nearby village Pischa in Shatsk District [36]. 3) Podillia. In the Podillia this species was known since researches in 1930s, but it was described by one record only in Yampil District of Vinnytsia Region [8]. In both Khmelnytsky and Ternopil Regions wildcats were not registered during long time. Afterward, 1 In the text, K. Tatarynov notes, that several cats were captured in adjacent Rivne Region (p. 94). Region in 1976 [21]. Until recently, the data on Western Podillia (for ex. for Khmelnytsky Region) were absent but some reports were only now reported (see below). 4) Black Sea Region is one of the well-studied areas, including Danube Delta and Lower Dnister wetlands. This area is under attention of cat researchers since time of O. Brauner [6,8,33]. Mygulin [8] has mentioned only several records of wildcats, and va) 2 . Afterward, notes about wildcats in this region appeared sporadically, but since the there were about 20 registrations during 1995-2000 [12]. Currently, we have regular new communications about records of wildcats in this region [2,10,18,35] (details below). From this region, one of easternmost record of wildcat from Lower Dnipro area (nearby Kherson) was reported [15] 3 .
In generally, known geographical range of Felis sylvestris in Ukraine deals with most western regions, mainly with the Carpathian Mts and Transcarpathian Lowland. Researchers have described that the ranges of this species were very differently (see: Fig. 1). Most of them were considered as Carpathians species. Records in Polissia were considered as former and very old. Concerning the Podillia, viewpoints were not stable: this species was not mentioned earlier for Podillia (in 1980, 1994) in RDBU, it was referred for Eastern Podillia (in 2009) in latest edition.

NEW MOST IMPORTANT DATA
Main attention was paid to the data since 2000. New records from several different regions which were earlier outside of wildcat range were reported.
1) Middle Dnipro. The main reason for the analysis of situation in Ukraine, the record of the cat in the vicinity of Cherkasy almost on the banks of the Dnipro (in Chyhyryn Among important details there are: weight 9.8 kg, body length (L) 65+ cm, tail (Ca) 33 cm, age -subadultus backside of foots and end of tail were in black color. This record was described below with code "R1". The collected material (skull) was deposited in work collection of I. Zagorodniuk. Cranial dimensions were presented in Table 1.
2) Dnipro Upland. New original record from Kirovohrad Region was reported (record term research a skin of large cat with large size and typical for wildcat coloration (Fig. 3).
distribution of dark bands on the body and tail was a typical for Felis sylvestris. It was measured by overall dimensions, the skin was characterized by following dimensions: L = 74.8 cm, Ca = 25.4 cm, Au = 5 cm ( Table 1). The cranial dimensions were unknown (skull in collection of poacher). Exact locality was also not known. It was only record of wildcat in Kirovohrad Region. est and passed it in his private collection (sign "H1" on the map: Fig. 6). One modern record more in this province (H2) was taken from place in Kamianets-Podilskyi District with two kittens in the tract "Surzhyntsi ravine" in ravine with a stream nearby from rocky place with oak-hornbeam forest (on the slopes of valley of the Ternava river). All other (6) records were also concerning with territory on the "Podilski Tovtry" National Park in the southern and southern-west districts of the Khmelnytskyi Region.

5) Lviv Region (Roztochchia and Skole Beskids).
Two wildcats were trapped nearby villages Ivana-Franka and Unyatychi (locality nearby from "Naguyevychi", Drohobych District (Lviv Region)). In December of 2010, animal was killed by hunter as previous locality in 8-10 km, south from Unyatychi (information from M. Pashko). Skin from village Mokrotyn in the Zhovkva District (in August, 2007) was trapped. This sample had some features of hybrid specimen: presence of black spots and relatively small body size. Sample from Mokrotyn was deposited in ZMD.

6) Bukovyna (Chernivtsi Region and adjacent districts of Ivano-Frankivsk Region).
New (since 2000) records appear due to targeted collection of new data that was organized by I. Skilsky. In total, there were more than 30 records from 9 administrative districts, listed below. Most of them was collected from middle-height and lower altitudes animals.

REVIEW OF ALL NEW RECORDS (after 2000)
In this chapter we have summarized all literature data and the original reviews of all new records of the Felis sylvestris in Ukraine since 2000. Some of these data were published in the articles deal with Eastern Podillia [21][22][23]28] and Lower Dnister [2,10,17]. New data was also published for Bukovyna (Chernivtsi Region) [34] and Transcarpathians (Zakarpatska Region) [4,5].
So, some authors have described new records of wildcats in 6 southern administraobservation of 20 specimens [21,23] as well as one new record in Odesa Region, namely in Velyka Mykhailivka District [2,22]. Three of these records with some details Wildcat trapped by hunters in Drohobych District, Lviv Region (photo from hunter forum "Hunting Ukraine", with permission from author) ISSN 1996ISSN -4536 2014 in Vinnytsia Region namely in Trostianets, Kryzhopil and Tomashpil Districts district were earlier described [23]. Probably, all of these records were mentioned in the map of species distribution, presented in the Red Date Book of Ukraine [24]. New important data from Vinnytsia Region were published in 2012 in relation to records of species in Chechelnyk and Trostianets Districts (south-east of the Region) [28]. The stable population of wild cat (density in centre of the population was about 50 specimens for 200 sq. km) in the easternmost foothills of the Podillia Upland (nearby from the border with Odessa Region) was reported [28]. According to this results, during long time local hunters considered all wild cats as feral domestic animals, and often shoot these cats for "clea ring of land" from alien animals, especially during hunting martens.
On the other hand, Dr. M. Rozhenko described several records of Felis sylvestris in the Dnister Delta and pointed 3 important facts: 1) wildcat was primary registered only ISSN 1996ISSN -4536 2014 in 1998 after more than 15 years of its absence, 2) there was a small but sustainable local population in this region with absolute number about 5-7 specimens, 3) du ring 2012-2013 essential population growth took place, and number of cats increased at mentioned in description of mammal fauna of Natural Reserve "Dnister marshes" [19], and recently for Velyka Mykhailivka District [2]. New data from Danube Delta in 2006-2007 were obtained [35]. So, in 2006, one and, in may of 2007, two kittens were found of Yermakiv Island on the territory of the Danube Biosphere Reserve. Data on number of known records, absolute and relative abundance of wildcats in different regions of Ukraine were summarized in the Table 1.

List of records after 2000
The records were listed in geographical order in the following text (from west to [10][11].  Chernivtsi Region (Fig. 7  wildcats was found in this District, and one kitten was captured and than it lived in captivity during one year [21]. V9a rial: skull in NMNH, No 16285 (number after [21] 5 ), fur color is typical for F. sylvestris V10 Fig. 9. Forest cat (Felis sylvestris) from Vinnytsia Region: A -kitten which was found in a lair (photo by B -cat grown to adult age in the Kyiv Zoo  Closed area was area of species distribution according to last edition of RDBU [24], light-gray polygon mark new range, that was not known in RDBU --O4. Velyka Mykhailivka District, between village Chapayeve and Chervonoznamianka (Chervo--pov in [22], mentioned just name of District, without details, with reference to A. Arkhipov, pers. com.). Additional data: earlier this species was noted for neighbor parts of the Dnister marshes [18][19] and in Mykolaiv Region (Fig. 10-11): Kryve Ozero District, village Sekretarka, 1 km NE and 2 km SW, date: since 2005 each tion of residents from hunters (each year more than 2-3 cats for private collections, cats named by

M3
nd specimen were in collection M4 Fig. 11. Fragment of the map of the wildcat distribution in the East of Podillia and Dnipro Region (Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad and Cherkasy Regions). Closed area was area of species distribution according to last edition of RDBU [24], light-gray polygon mark new range that was not known in RDBU Kirovohrad Region (Fig. 11): K1 K2 7 7 In different parts of this article, authors noted that the male of the animal was described by different numbers, No 16346 & 16343.

R1
publication: this article. R1a: one more (?) record came from resident from village Lubentsi in the same information can be the same as described in this point (R1).

OVERALL RANGE AND HABITATS
Range of the wildcat distribution covers large areas from Carpathian Mts. to Dnipro river in the East and Northern Black Sea Region in the South-East. Number and density of known records was decreasing in the mentioned directions (Fig. 12). In most of narrow places extension of known range was exceed 70 km, and in most wide places (it is more than 250 km). Probably, it happened in last 2 decades, and tempo of species Previous authors considered that the geographical distribution of this spe-cies in Podillia is associated with valley of the Dniester river and its main habitat as fragments of forests with permanent watercourses [22]. Our data suggest some relations of the at distances 100-200 m to 3-5 km from them. In general, geographical range was not solid and had lace-type. Most of the species records demonstrated close relationship especially on the East and South-East of the region (it was the steppe zone).
According to data obtained by Yu. Tkachuk [34], in Bukovyna wildcat used the burrows of badgers and foxes for its breeding lairs, and it was very rarely used the holes in the trees. In Podillia, M. Shkvyrya [22] indicated preference of tree-holes. New data was

CHANGES IN THE NUMBER AND DYNAMICS OF THE RANGE
Most researchers have noted that the number or the frequency of wildcat registrations in most regions was increased, except the Carpathians. The increase in the number of cats was reported in the Black Sea region [10] and in the Central Podillia [23,28]. There were new discoveries in previously "silent" areas, including both the Central Podillia and Left-bank Dnipro region (this paper). There were new records of the wildcats Region (this article).
One of the most numbers of wildcat in a last time was demonstrated for Eastern Podillia [21][22]. In total, 20 specimens of this species were found there, it indicates expansion beyond the known area of dwelling [2 Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv and Cherkasy regions were not seem random. Such registration can be viewed not as a result of new research in previously unstudied areas, but it can be considered as the appearance of the species due to natural settling of the more western areas. So, distance between Vinnytsia and Cherkasy was about 280-300 km, and expansion of the wildcat to the East seems a natural process.
There was a clear disparity in the distribution of the species (available data) in a space. This was evident both in areas with a high density of the population (including we can talk about same ecocorridors in the distribution of the species in the east of its modern range. One of the ways was described long time ago: it was the Dnister River 8]). Another way was associated with slope forests of Podillia Upland and extends along the Dnister, but it was not directly related with riverine ecosystems. The way (thickening of Main factor of the expansion of wildcat to East, on our mind, was the growth of its number in "old" parts of species range. So, the increasing of the wildcat number was described for population in Bukovyna, where general number before 2000 was about 60-90 specimens, and after 2005 was 120-160 specimens [11]. Strong tendency to the growth of the wildcat number in 2-3 times during last decade in Odesa Region was pointed by M. Rozhenko (see above). Appearance of new records after long time of the ISSN 1996ISSN -4536 2014 species absence as well as the growth of the number of known records was in the Western Pollissia (Volyn Region) [36], Western Podillia (Khmelnytskyi Region, in this article), and Eastern Podillia (Vinnytsia Region, in this article). Based on these results, the expansion of the wildcat's range in Ukraine can be explained as result of the growth of the general number of the wildcat population.

MORPHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES
The typical to Ukrainian populations among important morphological features were following: 1) the fur coloration in general was yellowish gray, presence of several dark bands 3) body size was large, body length (L) was 60 to 75 cm, weight (W) was about 5.5 4) tail was relatively short (40-50 % of body length), 3 dark rings were in on distal 5) hindfoot was large (about 14.5-17.0 cm), soles of paws were dark (black), the paws were large, the hind paws made the tracks about 40 6) the skull length (CRA) was 90 to 110 mm (condylobasal 80-100 mm), upper 8 was very variable but this depression was absent for typical wildcats [21] 9 . The skull of the wildcat from easternmost record of this species was presented in Fig. 13. 8 Some authors use the volume of the brain box for the diagnostics and description of the samples [25]. 9 This authors noted that this facture as "sign of Soungoni", that was erroneous spelling of the name of Dr. I. Szunyoghy [29], that should be spelled from Hungarian as "Sunyogi" or "Soonyugi".
A lot of authors have noted that most of the features have very small diagnostic values, mainly due to small differences between the wildcat and the domestic cat as well as wide hybridizations between them (see: [21]). It was very interesting that most of the peculiarities of Felis sylvestris were most expressed especially in the easternmost populations. So, the relatively small body sizes with body length about 61 (51-78) cm and body size about 5.2 (1.0-8.0) kg (see: [25], n = 31 males) for Central Europe and Western Carpathians were described. The cats from Podillia and Dniested region have bigger measurements of the skull compared to the above average value (Table 2). It wis interesting to note that the wildcats from Ukraine are characterized by relatively large body and skull size in comparison with cats from the west-and central-European populations. Thus, the smallest cat of Ukraine reaches larger body and skull size than the average values of these parameters for the cats from westernmost populations. The biggest cats had body weight about 9-12 kg (see text) and general length of skull 102-110 mm (see: Table 2). Perhaps, the large values of the wildcat's dimensions from Ukraine were associated with more stringent selection of the data by criteria "feral or wild cat".
Next important note was reported about the hybrids, which were regularly registered for this species [21,40]. However, we have no studied this question in details but we paid our attention to the cases of the detection of the deviations from the typical M4 (Mykolaiv Region). Both these localities were peripheral and corresponded to new parts of the species area after its expansion. So, most of new parts of the species range, specimens with some hybrid signs were registered in Lviv, Mykovaiv and Cherkasy Regions. Some of them had dark spots of the face and relatively long tail etc.