Wild Cats Uk Scotland

This project includes the development of Britains first dedicated wildcat conservation breeding for release centre and aims to secure the future of the species.

Wild cats uk scotland. The wildcat is one of the Cairngorms National Parks and Scotlands most iconic and evocative mammals and yet it may be on the brink of extinctionthe main threats to the future survival of the species in Scotland were. Wildcats are truly wild cats and are perhaps the most difficult animals to see in the wild in Scotland. A sad history of habitat loss persecution and more recently breeding with domestic cats has forced the Highland Tiger to a point where the population is no longer viable.

Wildcat kittens are going to be released into the wild in England for the first time in 150 years. This predominantly grey coloured cat has a distinctive bushy tail with seven black bands around it. The Scottish wildcat evolved from a population of European wildcats which became isolated by the English Channel over 9000 years ago.

We are the only Scottish wildcat conservation group focussed solely on saving the wildcat in the wild where it belongs. They are the largest of the wildcat family and can be double the size of a domestic pet cat and infinitely more ferocious. Functionally extinct For the past few years conservationists have been focusing on five.

The wild cat was once common over most of the British Isles but it is now only found in Scotland and is under threat with an estimated 400 remaining outside captivity. The wildcat is a European protected species. The first of its kind in the UK the centre will establish founder populations of wildcats and prepare them for life in the wild.

Working together with the project partners the UKs captive breeding holders for wildcats and international specialists in species recovery Saving Wildcats is the greatest hope for wildcats in Scotland. Without urgent action wildcats will be lost forever from Britain. A record 57 Scottish wildcat kittens were born in captivity this year as part of a UK-wide breeding programme.

These have been domesticated for some time and are brought these as pets to Britain. Scottish WildcatThe Scottish wildcat is a unique island population of the European wildcat isolated for the last 9000 years by the English ChannelLike all cats they have retractable claws exceptional night vision part-colour day vision superb hearing and a body form enabling excellent sprinting pouncing and all-round powerTheir thick coat keeping out rain river edges providing opportunities for hunting and. A combination of hunting and habitat loss meant they disappeared from England and Wales close to 200 years ago.