Highland wildcat kittens venture out
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TWO litters of very rare Scottish wildcat kittens have made an appearance in the Highlands.
The kittens were born at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie two months ago but are only now venturing out of their dens.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) says the kittens will go on to play a vital role in the conservation of the species.
The native species is facing the very real threat of extinction due to hybridisation with domestic and feral cats, habitat loss and accidental persecution.
However, as a result of co-ordinated conservation efforts and a conservation breeding programme for eventual release, the species has a fighting chance of survival.
David Barclay, RZSS cat conservation project officer, said: "The birth of these rare kittens is not just another boost for the captive breeding programme but for the conservation of this magnificent native species as a whole.
"Through our work with Scottish Wildcat Action, we are doing everything we can to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction and the safety net of the captive breeding programme is becoming more and more vital as wild populations continue to decline.
"We have recently developed an off-show breeding facility for the wildcats, one of the largest of its kind in the world for small cats. Through the conservation breeding and pre-release training programme we will eventually use captive born wildcats to carry out reintroductions across Scotland."
RZSS is a key partner in Scottish Wildcat Action, the first national project to save the highly endangered Scottish wildcat from extinction.
The six-year plan aims to reduce threats in wildcat priority areas, breed wildcats for later release and contribute to better understanding through new research:
The priority areas are Strathpeffer, Strathbogie, Northern Strathspey, Angus Glens, Strathavon and Morvern.
