Two wildcats released into Scotland's Cairngorms National Park last year have given birth, a development conservation experts are calling a "major milestone" for wildcat recovery. Nineteen wildcats, bred in captivity, were set free in June 2023 as part of Saving Wildcats, a project led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). The initiative aims to save the species, deemed nearly extinct in 2018.
Dr. Keri Langridge, Saving Wildcats field manager, confirmed the births through camera footage, noting significant changes in the behavior of two females. Sixteen of the released wildcats remain under observation, with two potentially alive but out of tracking range, and one deceased five weeks post-release. The project's goals include mitigating threats such as hybridization with domestic cats and predator control activities.
Dr. Helen Senn, project lead, emphasized the importance of these births, indicating successful adaptation and reproduction of the released wildcats. The team plans to collect DNA profiles of the kittens to confirm their parentage. She cautioned about high mortality rates for wildcat kittens and ongoing risks of hybridization. The project, collaborating with local stakeholders, continues its efforts to restore the wildcat population in Scotland.