A critically endangered animal could be brought back from extinction in England and set free back into the wild.

Wildcats, giant non-domesticated alternatives to the house cat, could be back in the wild in England as soon as 2027, according to campaigners at The South West Wildcat Project.

Wildcats used to roam across the countryside in the UK but have been extinct in England for more than 100 years.

But according to Devon Wildlife Trust, a majority of people in the South West approve of the idea of bringing the big cats back.

Though still found in small pockets of Scotland, wildcats were hunted to extinction in England and Wales more than a century ago.

The Trust said: “Wildcats were once found throughout Great Britain but were extinct from England and Wales by the mid-18th century because of human persecution. Even in their final Scottish haunts they are critically endangered, and subject to urgent species recovery action.

“Analysis has identified that the region is ecologically suitable whilst independent research by the University of Exeter has suggested that the South West public likes the idea of this native cat returning.”

The Trust says there is more work to be done before the region of England is definitely ready to rehome wildcats, but is hoping it could be made reality within a couple of years.

It adds: “However, it is also recognised that further work is needed to identify suitable release sites and raise awareness around wildcats including how they contribute to a healthy ecosystem. 

“Over the next one to two years, Devon Wildlife Trust and partners will work closely with local communities to identify if there are landscapes within Devon ready for wildcats.”

Interestingly, though they look alike, wildcats and normal pet house cats are not actually related, apart from the obvious distant evolutionary link.

The Trust adds: “The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is Britain’s only remaining native cat species. 

“They can look similar to a domestic tabby cat (Felis catus) but is larger, stockier and with a distinctive black-banded and blunt-tipped tail.

“Although they share a common ancestor, wildcats and domestic cats are separate species. Whilst widely distributed across Europe, wildcats in the UK are currently restricted to Scotland, where they inhabit the forested margins of moorland and farmland.”