2020 has been a record breeding year for critically endangered wildcats

This year has been recorded as a record breeding year for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) after 57 wildcats were born in the UK programme.

Record breeding year for critically endangered wildcats

In total, 22 litters of kittens were welcomed across ten of the zoos, wildlife parks and private collections working with the wildlife conservation charity, RZSS, including kittens at the Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park.

This is in comparison to 24 kittens that were born across 11 litters in 2019.

Wildcats are on the brink of extinction in Britain following habitat loss, persecution and breeding with domestic cats.

Record breeding year for critically endangered wildcats

The RZSS is leading a new partnership project, Saving Wildcats, which aims to secure a future for the Highland tiger by breeding wildcats and releasing them into the wild.

David Barclay, Saving Wildcats ex-situ conservation manager and coordinator of the UK conservation breeding programme, said: “Wildcats are one of Britain’s rarest and most endangered mammals which means every one of these kittens is a potential lifeline.

“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.”

As part of the Saving Wildcats project, a dedicated conservation breeding for release centre is being built at Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore.

Record breeding year for critically endangered wildcats

The centre will provide facilities for breeding, veterinary care, remote monitoring and training to prepare the cats for life in the wild, with the goal of releasing the first cats in 2022.

Mr Barclay added: “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."

The Saving Wildcats partnership is led by RZSS in collaboration with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, The Cairngorms National Park Authority, Norden’s Ark and Junta de Andalucía.

You can donate to help save Scotland’s wildcats here or anyone looking for a last minute Christmas present can buy a wildcat e-gift here, where the recipient can choose to feed animals in the zoos or support vital work on the front line of the conservation.

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