Inside Scotland's wildcat HQ - 'It's like Big Brother for cats'
The 'Saving Wildcats' project in Scotland uses 72 cameras to monitor captive-bred wildcats, assessing their health and behavior before release into the Cairngorms. The initiative has successfully reintroduced 46 wildcats, resulting in at least 20 wild-born litters, with plans for further reintroductions across Scotland.
Why it matters
This showcases successful conservation efforts for an endangered species, demonstrating innovative methods for wildlife reintroduction and contributing to biodiversity preservation in Scotland.
Image source, Saving Wildcats By Lorna Gordon Scotland correspondent Published 15 minutes ago From behind a giant bank of screens in a small windowless room, Estelle Morgan, animal team leader from the Saving Wildcats partnership, is keeping an eye on the latest wildcats being bred in captivity for release into the Cairngorms.
"It's like Big Brother for cats", she says of the 72 cameras being used to watch over the animals in their enclosures.
They are assessing whether they're healthy and have the behavioural potential to survive in the wild.
"We want to know what the cats are actually doing," she says.
Image caption, Estelle Morgan monitors the wildcats via 72 cameras in the Cairngorms
"What are they like without us there? she adds. "Are they able to climb? Are they able to pounce? Can they navigate complex structures? Are they active at natural times?"
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