The European Wildcat has made a return to a corner of Switzerland.
Keystone / Ronald Wittek
The European Wildcat has been chosen by the Swiss wildlife conservation organisation Pro Natura as its Animal of Year in 2020. The Swiss Fisheries Association has bestowed a similar honour on the trout.
Pro NaturaExternal link’s choice of the wildcat reflects the animal’s revival from near extinction to gaining a toehold in the Swiss forests of the Jura mountains in the northwest of the country. From there it is hoped the furtive creature can spread to central Switzerland and the foothills of the Alps.
Conservationists have redoubled their efforts to keep track of health of the wildcat populations by analysing hairs that they leave behind whilst marking their territories – typically several square kilometres for each of the solitary animals.
The Swiss Fisheries AssociationExternal link, on the other hand, is highlighting the declining fortunes of the trout. Once common in Swiss waterways, anglers are now reporting an alarming drop in numbers of the speckled fish.
A multitude of factors is believed to be behind the decline in trout stocks: rivers being diverted for human use, increased pollution from sewage, pesticides and manure, climate change raising water temperatures and drying out waterways plus the threat of fish-eating birds such as cormorants.
Related Stories
Popular Stories
More
Global elections
One Swiss man’s patient work towards a democratic Romania
Swiss foreign minister praises improved relations with Italy
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the good relations that Switzerland has developed with Italy.
Boating and swimming to be banned on part of River Aare in Bern
This content was published on
From September, the city and canton of Bern will be carrying out extensive construction work on the River Aare to protect against flooding and to renovate the Marzili outdoor pool.
Moutier: foreigners familiarise themselves with right to vote
This content was published on
From 2026, Moutier will be part of the Swiss canton of Jura, gaining more than 1,000 new voters. On Monday around 50 people were informed about their new rights.
Switzerland ‘more than ready’ to host Ukraine summit
This content was published on
Switzerland is more than ready to host a summit between Russia and Ukraine, says Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, highlighting Switzerland's expertise in this area.
This content was published on
Every second aircraft at Zurich Airport took off late this summer. However, the situation has already improved significantly compared to last year.
Swiss union federation demands average wage increase of 2%
This content was published on
The employees' umbrella organisation Travailsuisse is demanding an average wage increase of two percent for all employees in the coming year. This would cover the rising cost of living and make up for wage shortfalls in recent years.
‘Dr Pump’ sentenced for administering unauthorised substances
This content was published on
A Bern Regional Court has found the Solothurn doctor known as "Dr Pump" guilty of offences against the Sports Promotion Law. The man had administered unauthorised substances to patients.
This content was published on
Volunteering can have a positive effect on mental health. According to a survey conducted in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, people who volunteer for others also strengthen themselves.
This content was published on
Twint is being used more and more frequently to make purchases at the till or transfer money to friends using a smartphone. By the middle of the year, the payment app already had more than six million users in Switzerland.
This content was published on
The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should take place in Europe, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. He is calling for it to be held in Geneva.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.