Wildcat contributes to unique UK programme

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Wildcat contributes to unique UK programme

A male wildcat kitten from the Kent wildlife Park 'Wildwood Trust' has been sent to Highland Wildlife Park to contribute to a conservation breeding programme coordinated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Highland Wildlife Park, as the race continues to save this 'functionally extinct' species in the UK. Wildwood Trust has been actively involved in this conservation breeding programme for over 6 years, with amazing results: Nine kittens have been bred during this time. Kittens bred at Wildwood have been transferred to other zoological collections as part of the breeding programme. Wildcats are the only cat species native to the UK, but without genetic management the current population is no longer viable on its own.

The 8-month old kitten is part of a litter of 4, born at Wildwood last summer. He will be one of the first cats to move into the new specialist wildcat conservation breeding centre at the Highland Wildlife. It is hoped that he and his siblings will be paired successfully and produce kittens themselves which will contribute greatly to the programme. About the wildcat programme at Highland wildlife park Despite wildcats in Scotland being forest specialists, they are being forced to live closer to human populated areas due to issues such as forest loss and urbanisation. Wildcats are able to interbreed with the non-native domestic cat and this is the biggest reason affecting their survival.

The wildcat underwent a thorough health check under sedation prior to departure. He was admirably healthy, weighing an impressive 6 kg, which is normal for a wildcat, as the species is considerably heavier than a domestic cat.

Wildcats are not closely related to the domestic cat and are much bigger and bulkier with a large bushy tail. As the name suggests they are wild and cannot easily be tamed, even from a kitten. Wildcats are very shy and prefer to stay as far away from humans as they can. They are no threat to livestock, as their prey mostly consists of small rodents, rabbits and birds and they will also scavenge. Wildcat Studbook Keeper David Barclay from the Highland Wildlife Park said: 'The recent successful EU LIFE application marks a step change for long-term wildcat conservation and provides the greatest hope for the recovery of this iconic species.' Head of Conservation at Wildwood Laura Gardner said: 'The programme is about working together across the UK to save an animal brought to the brink of extinction by generations of persecution. This combined conservation effort not only aims to restore the wildcat to Scotland but will also drive long term habitat restoration which aids a multitude of species and provides many human health benefits'. Wildcat senior keeper at Wildwood Sally Holt said: 'We are so excited to see this kitten go towards such an important programme and to know that he will play an active role in this wildcat adventure'.

See footage of the litter that the wildcat came from here

Contact: Wildwood Trust: 01227 712 111 Julie Luna Bayer: julie@wildwoodtrust.org 07453 497086 Wildwood Trust Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ

FOLLOW US Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildwoodtrust Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thewildwoodtrust   ABOUT WILDWOOD Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002.  Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more.  As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.