Threatened by hybridisation with domestic cats, some experts believe there could be as few as 400 pure-bred wildcats left in Scotland, making this iconic feline even rarer than the Bengal tiger and heading for the unthinkable – extinction!

The recently established Cairngorms Wildcat Project is aiming to prevent this catastrophe from happening. Branded as ‘Highland Tiger’, the project aims to raise awareness of the plight of the wildcat and to safeguard its future in the Cairngorms National Park by encouraging responsible domestic cat ownership and by working with land managers to ensure that their predator control activities are wildcat friendly.

Dr. David Hetherington, the recently appointed project manager said, “Whilst red squirrels and sea eagles have caught the public’s imagination, the Scottish wildcat has drifted off our radar. If the public appreciate that there is such a thing as a native wildcat, this will give the species relevance, and subsequently people will care and then act to save it.”

This collaborative initiative includes Scottish Natural Heritage, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Forestry Commission and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland who will be working in partnership over the next 3 years and beyond to try to revive the fortune of one of Scotland’s cultural icons.

This exciting project was officially launched on 5th May 2009 by the Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham MSP at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig.

For further information and to find out how you can help please visit www.highlandtiger.com.