Really wild: Kittens step out
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland ( RZSS) is celebrating the birth of four critically endangered wildcat kittens at Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore.
Four critically endangered Scottish wildcat kittens have been born at the Highland Wildlife Park.
The youngsters, named Strom, Eilein, Druim and Vaara by Royal Zoological Society of Scotland ( RZSS) staff, were unveiled to the public t hi s week when the wildcat viewing area at the attraction near Kingussie was reopened. Guests will be encouraged to wear face masks to help keep the animals and other people safe.
Keith Gilchrist, animal collection manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the birth of four kittens, who were born during lockdown in May, to mum Fiain and dad Blair.
“It has been great watching them grow and it is fantastic to now be able to welcome visitors to meet them too.”
Wildcats are one of Scotland’s rarest and most threatened animals. A survey carried out bet ween 2015 and 2018 found that only 20 per cent of wildcats were fully wildcat, with the remaining 80 per cent either hybrids or entirely domestic.