Charity celebrates record breeding year for species
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is launching a new partnership project which aims to preserve the future of Scottish wildcats by breeding and releasing them into the wild.
The charity is celebrating a record-breaking year for wildcat conservation, after 57 wildcat kittens were born across the ten zoos, wildlife parks and private collections working with RZSS.
However, wildcat populations are still under threat in Britain as a result of habitat loss, persecution and breeding with domestic cats.
The new six-year-long project – named Saving Wildcats – aims to bring about the urgent action needed to prevent the extinction of wildcats.
Saving Wildcats ex-situ conservation manager and coordinator of the UK conservation breeding programme David Barclay said: “Over the last few years, the members of the wildcat breeding programme have demonstrated the immense value in working together to secure a future for this iconic species.”
“It has been a challenging year but we are really excited to be bringing together all the necessary resources and expertise to save Scotland’s wildcats, and incredibly grateful to everyone making this vital work possible."
A dedicated conservation breeding for release centre is being built at Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore as part of the project. This facility will support wildcat populations through breeding, veterinary care and remote monitoring, as well as preparing the cats to be released into the wild.
The centre aims to release the first cats into the wild in 2022.
For more information on Saving Wildcats, please visit savingwildcats.org.uk/
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
