Saving Wildcats (#SWAforLIFE)
@SaveOurWildcats
Followers
9K
Following
4K
Media
2K
Statuses
4K
Scottish wildcat conservation + recovery project 🐾 The last hope for our Highland tiger 💚 Saving Scotland's wildcats w/ national + international expertise 😻
Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined April 2015
We've got three new wildcats for you to sponsor 🎉. Oscar is vocal, but all talk. Skye is quick and agile. Margaret is feisty. Sponsor one of these wildcats to save the Highland tiger today ➡
5
43
196
🎉 WILDCATS HAVE BEEN RELEASED 🎉 . We have begun releasing this critically endangered species into the Cairngorms National Park 🐾 . This is an exciting moment for the partnership and a step forward for the restoration of the wildcat in Scotland 👉
63
833
5K
Two litters of wildcat kittens have been born in the Cairngorms 🎉. Following the release of 19 wildcats last summer, two females have successfully given birth in the wild, marking a huge milestone in our efforts to restore wildcats in Scotland ➡
40
669
3K
A few months ago, we were surprised to find footage indicating that two of the female wildcats released in 2023 have each had a second litter of kittens 🐾. While not impossible, second litters in the same year are rare!
13
263
2K
We are celebrating a HUGE SUCCESS today at the end of our very first breeding season at the centre!. In a quiet area away from visitors @HighlandWPark, we are thrilled to have welcomed a total of 22 wildcat kittens in six litters 😻. Learn more 👉
29
333
2K
Wildcats are best left undisturbed by humans 🐾. This means we will not be making the exact location of their releases public. Anyone interested in seeing wildcats can visit one of the members of the @rzss-led UK conservation breeding programme ➡
15
119
1K
We've had another successful breeding season at our off-show conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark 🐾. 16 kittens were born this year! Find out more ➡
15
165
1K
We're thrilled to announce that our partner @nature_scot have granted us a license to release wildcats bred at @HighlandWPark into the Cairngorms National Park later this year 🐾. Find out more about this important milestone ➡
10
150
985
Here come the girls. 🐾. During our kitten’s routine vaccinations, our veterinary team were able to sex them all!. Thirteen feisty females and nine mischievous males were born in the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre this year 🧡
9
87
724
Nine more wildcats have been released into the Cairngorms National Park 🐾🎉. Find out more ➡
10
126
695
You've got to be kitten us! We love these videos of wee wildcats becoming more confident 😻. Sign up to our newsletter to receive exclusive content about these kittens and all the other wildcats that call the Cairngorms home ➡
6
91
549
A MASSIVE thank you to all 296 of you who helped to support us through the @BigGive's #GreenMatchFund 💚. Incredibly, we raised a total of £23,122 which will go directly towards saving Scotland's wildcats 🐾
8
49
471
Dr Helen Senn, our project lead, and head of conservation and science programmes at @rzss will be giving a talk about Saving Wildcats on Monday at Boat of Garten Community Hall 🐾. Find out more ➡
6
66
456
We have released 28 wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park since 2023. Prior to release, each wildcat was fitted with a GPS-radio collar, allowing the field team to track their movements 🐾
15
67
497
The first year of wildcat releases is complete 🙌. 19 wildcats have now been released into the @CNPnature/@CairngormsCo landscape, with most doing well. This is HUGE step forward in our partnership efforts to restore this iconic species 🐱. Read more 📰
5
102
434
Following our release of 19 wildcats into the Cairngorms last year, we are planning on releasing more wildcats this summer to reinforce the existing population 🐾. As with last year, all released wildcats will wear a GPS-radio collar so their movements can be recorded 📡
15
61
449
Wildcats in Scotland are clinging on by a claw. We can all play a role to ensure their recovery, and the local community is vital in this work 🧡. If you are part of a local community group that would like to hear from us please email wildcats@rzss.org.uk to organise a talk 🐾
2
94
369
What would you call a group of wildcat kittens?. We recently announced the birth of 11 kittens in our off-show conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark 😻. Read more about their arrival ➡
19
52
361
Well blow us down! Didn't realise it was #tongueouttuesday ? Ok, would be rude not to share this beaut with you all. It's a Scottish wildcat kitten, famously untameable, but so, so beautiful! #GenerationWildcat
2
43
345
We are DELIGHTED ten more kittens have been born in our conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark 🧡. Born to mums Tulla and Margaret, the two litters of five could be among the first of their kind released into the Cairngorms next year 👉
6
65
330
FIRST WILDCAT KITTENS BORN 😻. Eight wildcat kittens, likely to be among the first of their species released into the wild in Britain, have been born in our breeding for release centre @HighlandWPark ( + there may be more to come!). Read the full story ➡️
7
76
317
Wildcats now roam the @CairngormsCo landscape 🐾. This release site offers large areas of legally protected habitat within the Cairngorms National Park. With support from local communities, Cairngorms Connect is committed to enhancing habitat and safeguarding species 🐱
5
62
299
We're delighted to have @RoyalFamily HRH The Princess Royal visit us yesterday to learn more about the work we're doing to save Scotland's wildcats 🧡. Following a tour of the project hub, HRH unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit.
2
44
323
The bond is strong between a wildcat mother and her kittens during the early weeks of life. They emerge from their dens to play at around 4-5 weeks old and start hunting with their mother between 10-12 weeks old. #MothersDay #MotheringSunday #wildcats #GenerationWildcat
0
31
294
There are now wildcats across Badenoch and Strathspey, and many of them do not wear tracking collars 🐾. We will continue to monitor them using camera traps, but will increasingly rely on public sightings to keep track of this new and growing population ➡
6
74
292
11 wildcat kittens have been born at our conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark - and there may be more to come! . These kittens will play an important role in securing a future for the species. Find out more 👉
11
51
277
🎉 FANTASTIC NEWS 🎉. @RewildingEurope are supporting a second year of wildcat releases through their European Wildlife Comeback Fund 🐾. After funding the releases of 19 wildcats last year, we're delighted that they are continuing to support wildcat restoration in Scotland 🧡
3
54
260
To visually assess how released wildcats are getting on we often set up camera traps baited with valerian, an especially strong-smelling root that most cats tend to like 😻. This female wildcat can be seen here enjoying the good smells and lounging in the sunshine 🌞
2
44
263
Cranachan is one of the wildcats in our conservation breeding for release centre 🐾. His kittens will be the first of their kind to be released into the Cairngorms from 2023 🌲. You can receive exclusive news about our wildcats by sponsoring one today ➡
6
29
262
This wildcat was released last year into @CairngormsCo and we were delighted to receive these photos of her from a member of the public 😻. If you're lucky enough to photograph a wildcat, please submit your sighting here ➡ 📷 Debra Pickering
4
59
251
Together we have been able to release wildcats thanks to our partners, supporters and our local community 🧡. Thank you for everything you have done to save the Highland tiger 🐾. 📷 Thanks to @ScotlandTBP for landscape footage of the Highlands
1
62
240
Today we are delighted to be launching our brand new campaign - #GenerationWildcat - We are encouraging everyone to be proud to be part of the last generation capable of saving the Scottish wildcat from extinction. Find out more here -
6
121
225
The wildcats which will be released into the Cairngorms National Park this summer moved into specially designed pre-release enclosures earlier this year 🐾. They are preparing for a challenging life in the wild at @HighlandWPark 🐱. Find out more ➡
1
55
229
Next year we will release wildcats into the Scottish Highlands - the first release of the species in the UK!. Our first trial releases within the Cairngorms will help us learn more about how wildcats behave in the wild, the prey they favour and the territories they establish 🧡
5
34
223
One year on from the first ever releases of wildcats in Britain, we're reflecting on all the milestones we've reached this year. Read more about what we've done ➡ 🐾
3
40
221
Fantastic pin badge @Mort3mer! Thanks so much for supporting wildcats. 🐯.
Our lovely pin! $20 each and all net proceeds are going to @SaveOurWildcats !! Come help these little guys out! art by @vanduobones get yours-
0
14
216
Meet Droma, one of the #wildcats in our conservation breeding for release centre. Droma is a one-year-old female who recently joined us from a private collection. She's made herself quite at home and her enthusiasm for everything ensures the keepers are always entertained 😻
4
34
194
Wildcats became legally protected for the first time in 1988, following a history of persecution. Since then, it has been illegal to kill or disturb a wildcat 🐾. The wildcats being released this year will be legally protected by these laws ➡
1
32
192
Some of you might have spotted (or should that be 'striped'?) wildcats being mentioned in the Sunday Herald yesterday:
2
29
185
It's beginning to feel a lot like autumn 🍁. The wildcats in our conservation breeding for release centre @HighlandWPark are enjoying the falling leaves and changes in temperature 🍂. Ordie loves to camouflage high up in his trees where he can see what's going on 🐾
0
29
185
🎄 Are you FELINE festive yet?. We want to wish you all a very Happy Holidays and thank you for your ongoing support. Together, we're Saving Wildcats 🧡
1
20
177
Our understanding of wildcat ecology, including prey and habitat preferences, will increase once the first trial release of wildcats happens in the Cairngorms National Park later this year 🐾. They will be tracked closely using GPS collars, and we can't wait to see what we learn!
1
25
179
Fruin is a typical grumpy wildcat and loves snacking, napping and pulling faces 😸. She always loves to know what's happening, especially when other cats are being fed 🐀. Sponsor Fruin for just £5 a month to receive exclusive updates about her ➡
1
18
183
Cranachan has built up quite a reputation with his funny faces. He's very adventurous, and loves sniffing, smelling and licking everything to work out what's going on in his off-show enclosure at @HighlandWPark 🐾. You can sponsor Cranachan today ➡
5
26
178
Thank you all for your continued support and we hope everyone has a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year! #NewYear2020 #wildcat #WednesdayThoughts We are #GenerationWildcat
1
17
179
The first year of wildcat releases were supported by @RewildingEurope's #EuropeanWildlifeComebackFund 🐾. This fund is designed to support wildlife restoration and came at a perfect time for the Saving Wildcats partnership. Find out more ⬇.
0
40
166
Last year we took significant steps towards preventing the extinction of wildcats in Scotland by breeding and preparing them for their upcoming release into the wild 🐾. Take a look back on what we achieved together ➡
1
28
174
Sponsor a wildcat and help restore the Scottish wildcat population 🐾. By sponsoring Droma, Fruin or Cranachan at @HighlandWPark you'll give their kittens the best chance in the wild while receiving exclusive updates 🧡. Together we can save wildcats ➡
2
44
171
Last year we released 19 wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park. Each was fitted with a GPS-radio collar, allowing our experienced field team to track them across their new home. You can find out more about these collars here ➡
3
35
165
Happy Dec 1st everyone! The Christmas month begins & the team here at Scottish Wildcat Action would like to wish everyone Season's Greetings. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas & New Year. Thank you all for your support. This image was taken in Strathbogie #GenerationWildcat
3
22
168
It’s not the size of the tree, it’s how you climb it 🐾 #MondayMotivation #mondaythoughts #wildcat #GenerationWildcat #CatsOfTwitter
0
23
169
Our partners at RZSS @EdinburghZoo have announced the names of their adorable kittens. Rusky and Tulla. Thank you to everyone who voted!.
Introducing. Rusky and Tulla😻. Thank you to everyone who voted on our keepers' shortlist - you've chosen lovely, Scottish loch inspired names for our adorable wildcat kittens💛. Our top tip for visitors is to try spotting them towards the end of the day + remember to look up🌳
1
6
162
Arwen is a female wildcat that was released by Saving Wildcats in 2023. Since her release she has given birth to two litters of kittens and has settled in a nice riparian habitat, bordering open grassland, meaning she can take advantage of a good amount of prey 🧡
6
28
189
We have a great video this week as part of our regular feature. As usual tell us whether you think this looks like a #WildcatOrNot ? Maybe the @BBCSpringwatch team & @IoloWilliams2 will have a go at this one as they're broadcasting live all week from Cairngorms National Park
19
39
154
THANK YOU to everyone who donates leylandii to the wildcats in our conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark 🌿. Embo and Torr have been enjoying the new smells and textures in their enclosure 🧡
2
24
156
Conservation breeding for release has been used in many successful species recovery projects such as Iberian lynx in Spain and Portugal, black footed ferrets in North America, and European mink in Estonia. We aim to grow the population of wildcats through release into the wild 🐾
1
30
148
It's #BurnsNight 🎉. How about celebrating Scotland by sponsoring one of the wildcats in our conservation breeding for centre at @HighlandWPark?. For only £5 a month you can receive exclusive updates about Scottish wildcat conservation ➡ #BurnsDay
6
27
152
Wildcats in large, natural, off-show pre-release enclosures at @HighlandWPark are preparing for a challenging life in the wild by developing their natural skills, like hunting and scenting. We hope to release these wildcats later this summer 🐾
1
23
151
Earlier this month we released wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park. This is the first time wildcats bred in captivity have been released into the wild in Britain 🐾. Sign up to our newsletter to receive exclusive updates about our work ➡
2
26
142
Look at that tail! #scottishwildcat spotted in #aberdeenshire on one of our trail cameras. RT if you love wildcats -
4
118
135
If ever you need proof that wildcats are out there, then look no further! We received these fantastic images from Roman Inauen, who recently caught a glimpse from afar of an elusive Scottish wildcat. #GenerationWildcat #wildcats #nature #SWAforLIFE
3
20
140
Happy Hogmanay from all of us at Saving Wildcats 🧡. What a year it's been! Over the past 12 months we've welcomed ten wildcats into our conservation breeding for release centre 🐾. Keep up to date with these Highland tigers in 2022 via our newsletter ➡️
2
23
138
This wildcat certainly has some cat-itutde 😸. Our centre has over 70 CCTV cameras, allowing our team of keepers to monitor wildcats without going near them. This means the wildcats don't become overly familiar with the keepers, helping to prepare them for life in the wild 🐾
2
21
146
Wildcats are excellent climbers and often climb the tall trees in our off-show conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark 🌲🌳. Can you spot the wildcat in this photo?
11
27
140
Episode two of 'Wildcats: Cait ann an Cunnart' will be on BBC ALBA this evening at 9:00pm. We're excited for you to see what happened behind the scenes when we released wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park for the first time ➡
3
22
146
Say hello to Skye 😻. She has recently arrived into our off-show conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark from @Aigas 🐾. She'll be paired with Oscar once she's had time to settle in. We hope they have a successful breeding season together 🧡
2
19
139
Thanks to people like YOU, wildcats have been released in the Cairngorms National Park 🌲. Sponsor Droma, Fruin or Cranachan to receive exclusive updates about them and their kittens, who could be among those released in 2024 🐾. Find out more ➡️
3
28
135
Tomorrow is the first of our @CNPnature #CairngormsNatureFestival events 🐾. Join us at @HighlandWPark to learn about our plans to restore the Scottish wildcat population ➡
2
26
134
Spotted in the wild 👀. We were thrilled to receive this photo from a member of the public, who managed to snap a photo of one of the wildcats released earlier this year 🐾. If you manage to take a photo of a wildcat, please email us at wildcats@rzss.org.uk 📸. 📷 Tracy Robinson
2
19
132
Hey folks! BBC's Winterwatch starts at 8pm tomorrow and they're in the Cairngorms Park all week! Tune in each day and on Wednesday's show you'll see some of @SaveOurWildcats team talking about the work we are doing to protect the Scottish wildcat this winter.
We are VERY excited to let you know that @IoloWilliams2 will be joining our team in the Cairngorms for the entire year! 👏👏 Listen in as he tells us what he's most excited about! We CANNOT wait! ❄️ #Winterwatch
4
28
131
Meet Mallachie 😻. Named after a loch in the Cairngorms National Park, this male will hopefully be paired with Fruin during breeding season. We’ve got our paws crossed that they will have kittens this year 🐾. 📷 P. Ross
0
14
130
We hope to continue releasing wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park as:. 👩⚖️ Much of it is legally protected.🐾 It was considered one of the last strongholds for wildcats in Scotland.🌲 It contains some of the largest areas of connected suitable habitat in the Highlands
1
25
127
Even with careful preparations, the release of any animal into the wild for conservation purposes can be challenging and full of possible complications 🐾. So why are we breeding wildcats for release?.Find out ➡
1
21
120
Talla has given birth to FIVE feisty kittens! These wildcats can be viewed by the public at @HighlandWPark 😻. Although they're still small, these cats are making a HUGE contribution to the UK's conservation breeding programme, managed by @rzss ➡
We're thrilled to share that five ADORABLE Scottish wildcat kittens have been born in Wildcat Wood 😻. Our critically endangered new arrivals are growing more confident every day and can be spotted exploring their home with mum, Talla 💙. Find out more 👉
0
17
127
What do our keepers do every day?. 🐁 Prepare, measure and give out food to ensure our wildcats get the correct nutrition. 📷 Monitor individuals remotely via cameras to check behaviour. 🐾 Create and build enrichment for the cats to develop natural instincts. ➕ So much more!
3
16
121
Snow has struck the Highlands and our field team have been out and about tracking wildcats in the wintry conditions ❄. A few weeks ago, field officer Jamie actually saw a paw print in the snow of one of the released wildcats (next to a car key for scale)! 🐾
2
16
122
Huge thanks to @IoloWilliams2 for donating to our work while visiting the @HighlandWPark this week.
4
24
129
Together, we're Saving Wildcats 🧡. Scotland’s wildcats are a sub-population of the mainland European population, not a separate species. To give Scotland's wildcats the best chance of survival, we may use individuals from Europe to boost genetic diversity 🧬. 📷 P. Ross
0
22
118
Wildcats will be released into the @CairngormsCo landscape this year 🎉. The site contains some of the largest areas of connected suitable habitat in northern Scotland. We're grateful for the partnership's commitment to enhancing habitat, species and ecological processes 🌲.
Have you heard the news? . Wildcats will be released in the Cairngorms Connect landscape later this year!. The size & scale of this landscape make it the perfect release location. We’re delighted to be a part of restoring this iconic species. ➡️
0
22
114
Thank you so much @Mort3mer and everyone who purchased. Your support really helps #SaveOurWildcats 😻. You can still grab a hoody or a pin badge while stocks last.
We have a few items in the store that give all net proceeds to charity! Here is October’s payouts to @SaveOurWildcats and @ColorOfChange !! Thank you all for making these donations possible! 🖤🖤🖤 (Scottish wildcat design art by @vanduobones !!)
1
11
122
This #GivingTuesday why not help save wildcats in Scotland with an e-gift? 🧡. Your donation will ensure a wildcat in our conservation programme receives essential vaccinations + a full health check so it's ready for future release into the wild.
0
39
126
After an incredibly busy week, our team are pleased that three of the Lynx that were found in the Cairngorms are now safely at @EdinburghZoo. We were happy to offer our expertise to Police Scotland during this time. We are now returning our focus to restoring wildcats.
3
8
130
Welcome to #2019 everyone! Today, we have a blog from wildcat expert and Principal Curator of Vertebrates at @NtlMuseumsScot , Dr Andrew Kitchener, who provides a fascinating look at what a Scottish wildcat actually is -
4
46
118
How many kittens can you count? 😸. It has been wonderful to see Tulla's kittens becoming more confident and developing their natural behaviours 🐾. We hope these feisty wee kittens will be among the first of their kind to be released in to the wild from 2023 🧡
5
24
117
We don't always pick up wildcats on our camera traps, sometimes we pick up other species having fun too 😻. Check out this video of some stoats enjoying the summer ⬇
4
17
116
The wildcats in our conservation breeding for release centre are fed a varied diet of rabbits, other small rodents and birds to mimic what they would naturally eat in the wild 🐰. This will help them prepare for regular changes to the menu once they're released 🐾
0
12
113
We don't get much sun up here in the Highlands, but when we do, the wildcats love it 🌞. Skye is always up for a cat-nap in the sunshine, and can spend hours lounging in our off-show conservation breeding for release centre 😸. You can sponsor her today ➡
3
16
117
Meet the newest resident of our conservation breeding for release centre! 🐾. Cranachan is a one year old male with a keen appetite who recently arrived from @CamperdownWild 😺. He joins our other wildcats in a private part of @HighlandWPark where no visitors are allowed 🌲
4
20
111
0
18
111
Happy Valentine's Day 💕. Find out how the wildcats in our conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark are getting on during this year's breeding season ➡
0
25
108
Good afternoon everyone! It's time again for our regular feature #WildcatOrNot - as usual tell us whether you think this cat, camera trapped in one of our priority areas, looks like a #WildcatOrNot?
38
29
112
As we move into spring, we're hopeful for the arrival of wildcat kittens into our conservation breeding for release centre 🐾. Can you contribute to their release? Volunteer with us and help save Scotland's wildcats ➡ 📷 P. Ross
1
25
109
We need YOUR eyes 👀. Wild-born wildcat kittens are becoming independent from their mums, exploring on their own. We can't fit them with tracking collars as they're still growing so we need help. If you think you've seen a young wildcat, please email us at wildcats@rzss.org.uk 🐾
2
27
113
We are conducting behaviour monitoring of the wildcats in our pre-release enclosures via CCTV at @HighlandWPark before their release 📷. This is because we want to see that they're developing natural behaviours that could help them survive a challenging life in the wild 🐾
5
22
110
The kittens that were born this year in our conservation breeding for release centre are growing up fast 🧡. It has been amazing to see them learning how to climb, stalk and pounce, playing with their siblings 🐾
0
18
105
Two more kittens have been born in our off-show conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark 🎉. These feisty felines will stay with mum until they are about six to eight months old. They will learn lots of valuable skills from her, such as pouncing and stalking 😻
0
22
107
Absence makes the heart grow fonder 😻. The male wildcats, in our conservation breeding-for-release centre @HighlandWPark, have been separated from the females for a short period. Time apart can help encourage mating interest from both cats once they are reintroduced next year.
0
17
111
Every year our experienced keepers and veterinary team administer vaccines to all newly born kittens in the off-show conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark. Discover more about this process ➡
0
17
111