"The Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes) is endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa, occurring in a patchy and restricted distribution across the western areas of its range. Historical data scarcity has led to inconsistencies in the literature, which in turn has affected conservation measures. The small size, rarity, and nocturnal behavior of Black-footed Cats have contributed to this lack of information. Additionally, this species is frequently misidentified as the Afro-Asiatic wildcat or the common genet.
Black-footed Cats occur at low densities, making population size estimation challenging. The speciesโ stronghold is suspected to be in South Africaโs central Karoo region, where the highest number of distribution records and densities are reported. Other regions are likely to support medium to very low densities.
Using population densities of 0.02 cats/kmยฒ and 0.01 cats/kmยฒ, respectively (Sliwa et al. 2016), the total estimated population size is 8,840 of which 6,188 are mature individuals, applying a 70% mature population structure.
Subpopulation sizes (13) vary from 63 to 918 mature individuals, with no subpopulation exceeding 1,000 mature individuals or densities above 3 cats per 100 kmยฒ.
Long-term data from monitored populations show a decline in the number of mature individuals, as evidenced by both field observations and surveys, as well as reduced capture rates of individuals for radio-collaring.
As a result, the species is listed as Vulnerable (C2a(i)), with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, no subpopulation exceeding 1,000 individuals and a globally continuous declining population."
Here is a link to an article about the long-term research of 30 years+ by Dr Alex Sliwa and his colleagues at the Black-footed Cat Working Group on this small cat:
โBlack-footed Cats ~ Studying One of Africa's Rarest Wild Catsโ
Wildlife Wonder: Black-footed Cats
Here is quite an old video but an informative one, with great footage from South Africa's popular environmental TV program - 5050.
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