Wild cats raised in captivity were released into the wild for the first time in Great Britain
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In Great Britain, young wild cats bred in captivity were released into the wild for the first time. The animals were released in the Scottish Highlands as part of the Saving Wildcats project, CNN reports. In total, they plan to release 22 animals. “This is a really exciting milestone,” says Dr. Helen Senn, Saving Wildcats project manager and head of conservation and science programs. Photo: savingwildcats According to her, it is critical to release the animals because this species of cats, called “high mountain tigers”, is on the verge of extinction. Studies conducted between 2010 and 2013 showed that there were only 115 to 314 feral cats left in the wild. In 2019, researchers concluded that there were no viable feral cat populations left in Scotland. Larger and stockier than domestic cats, their wild relatives have mottled brown fur, bushy, black-tipped striped tails and ears that stick out to the side. Animals arrived in Great Britain about 9 thousand years ago. In the 19th century, habitat clearance and persecution wiped out the cats in England and Wales, leaving only small populations in Scotland. The main danger is that wild cats interbreed with domestic ones, resulting in the birth of hybrid kittens, which threatens the species with genetic extinction. A protected area in the Cairngorms National Park, a mountainous region in the north of Scotland, was chosen for the release of the cats. Rescue of feral cats Wild cats live mostly in valleys, roaming the edges of forests in search of small mammals: rabbits, mice and voles, which make up the main part of their diet. However, cats can attack frogs, lizards, insects and birds if given the chance. Photo: savingwildcats The authors of the Saving Wildcats project made efforts to ensure that cats bred in captivity have the instincts and hunting skills necessary for survival in the wild. The cats were raised in a quiet location, closed to the public, at the Highland Wildlife Park, near the Cairngorms. “They had as little human contact as possible,” says Senn. The kittens lived with their parents for 9 months, then they were transferred to large enclosures to prepare for release. About 60 cats are planned to be released over the next three years. According to Senn, it is illegal to feed cats live prey, so they were fed a mixed diet of dead mice, rats and chickens, as well as whole or parts of rabbit and deer carcasses. To simulate conditions in nature, keepers varied feeding times and placed food in different places for the cats to find. “All enclosures have climbing structures that sway, just like tree branches,” says Senn. These conditions promote natural nutrition and help cats develop strong jaw muscles, as well as motor skills necessary for balance and coordination. Cat’s future Before release, the cats will be fitted with collars with GPS tracking. Together with a network of camera traps, this will allow scientists to gather information about the cats’ behavior and lifestyle. Photo: savingwildcats Senn says her dream is to see wildcat populations in the Cairngorms thrive and eventually restore large areas of the Scottish landscape. “In the UK we’ve lost a lot of our carnivore species and if we let the feral cat die out it would be very sad,” she says. Senn believes that feral cats can be a driver of ecosystem health, as creating a better environment for them will benefit many other species. In addition, these animals are an iconic species for Scotland and an important part of local culture. Read also: Fat cats are cute, but dangerous. How to understand that a pet is overweight
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