{"id":28028,"date":"2023-05-15T13:31:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T11:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=76880"},"modified":"2023-05-15T13:35:53","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T11:35:53","slug":"captive-bred-wildcats-to-be-released-in-scotland","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/captive-bred-wildcats-to-be-released-in-scotland\/","title":{"rendered":"Captive-bred wildcats to be released in Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saving Wildcats conservation project reaches an important milestone this summer <\/p>

By Simon Birch\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 15 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

In a pioneering move, the Scottish government has approved the first ever release into the wild of up to 20 captive-bred Scottish wildcats<\/a><\/strong> in a series of trial releases in the Cairngorms National Park<\/a> later this summer.<\/p>\n

Bred at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland\u2019s (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park<\/a>, near Aviemore, the release of the wildcats will be a huge boost towards restoring Scotland\u2019s Critically Endangered wildcat<\/a> population.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter release, the wildcats will be monitored using GPS collars as they face the many challenges of life in the wild,\u201d says Helen Senn from the RZSS, who leads the Saving Wildcats<\/a> project.<\/p>\n

The project has received enthusiastic support from the Scottish farming community.<\/p>\n

Bobby Carruth, communications director at the National Farmers\u2019 Union of Scotland<\/a>, says, \u201cWe recognise that wildcats remain Critically Endangered and the farming community in release areas will be keen to support these plans and identify how they can assist.\u201d<\/p>\n

More related content:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scottish wildcat guide: how to identify, where they live, and conservation efforts<\/a><\/p>\n

Behind the scenes at Aigas wildcat breeding centre<\/a><\/p>\n

Beautiful Scottish wildlife<\/a><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the national animal of Scotland?<\/a><\/p>\n

Guide to Scotland\u2019s National Parks and wildlife<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div> <\/section>

The Saving Wildcats partnership plans to release up to 20 wildcats each year into the Cairngorms, and in the longer term wildcat releases will extend to other locations right across Scotland.<\/p>\n

Scottish wildcats are the only native member of the cat family found in the wild in the UK.<\/p>\n

Once roaming throughout the mainland, the wildcat has been persecuted for centuries and just a few hundred animals remain in northern Scotland.<\/p>\n

Main image (captive): Without urgent action, the Scottish wildcat could become extinct. \u00a9 David Tipling\/Universal Images Group\/Getty<\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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