Critically Endangered Wild Cat Kittens Born at Highland Wildlife Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 5, 2020 12:49 am

A wild cat kitten at Highland Wildlife Park

Photo Credit:  Alyson Houston/RZSS 

The population of the critically endangered Scottish wild cat has been given a boost with the birth of four kittens at Highland Wildlife Park.

These kittens were born to mother, Fiain and dad, Blair during May. The group is made up of one male and three females. They have been named Strom, Eilein, Druim and Vaara.

A wild cat kitten at Highland Wildlife Park

Photo Credit:  Alyson Houston/RZSS

Keith Gilchrist, animal collection manager at Highland Wildlife Park said, “We are thrilled to welcome the birth of four kittens, who were born during lockdown in May, to mum Fiain and dad Blair.

“We have one male, Strom, and three females, Eilein, Druim and Vaara. It has been great watching them grow and it is fantastic to now be able to welcome visitors to meet them too.”

A wild cat kitten at Highland Wildlife Park

Photo Credit:  Alyson Houston/RZSS 

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Wildcats are among the most threatened and rarest animals in Europe. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) are leading the Saving Wildcats partnership which is working to breed and release wild cats to the wild. The program is lead by RZSS in collaboration with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Norden’s Ark and Junta de Andalucía.

David Barclay, Saving Wildcats ex-situ conservation manager, said, “Following a sad history of habitat loss, persecution and, more recently, breeding with domestic cats, wildcats are on the brink of extinction in Scotland but it’s not too late.

A wild cat kitten at Highland Wildlife Park

Photo Credit:  Alyson Houston/RZSS 

“By bringing together the expertise and skills of national and international organisations, the Saving Wildcats project can secure a future for the Highland tiger by breeding and releasing wildcats into the wild, so every birth is a potential lifeline for the species.”

Guests at Highland Wildlife Park have a chance to see the wild cat kittens after the viewing areas for them reopened this week. To help keep the wildcat family and other visitors safe guests are asked to wear masks in this area.

Learn more about Highland Wildlife Park – Highland Wildlife Park