Boom in kittens at Camperdown could save species from extinction

Camperdown Wildlife Centre is playing a vital part in bringing an iconic Scottish species back from the brink of extinction.

The Dundee zoo, which is home to more than 300 different animals, has had a huge amount of success breeding Scottish wildcats this year.

The centre has produced twice the number of cubs expected, with seven from two different litters being born at the centre.

The kittens are the o ff s p r i n g of resident wildcats Pipit, Beryl and Fergus, who have and fascinated the z o o ’s visitors for years.

Brad ly Yu le , conservation manager at the wildlife centre, said: “We have kept Scottish wildcats here at Camperdown since at least the early ’70s.

“Now that wildcats are considered a monitored species, conservation for them has been increased.

“We ’ v e been very

successful this year, we’ve managed to produce a total of two litters and seven cubs – usually we would only be looking at about two or three.”

Scottish wildcats are considered to be one of the UK’s most endangered species.

Some exper ts claim there may be as few as 50 pure-bred wildcats outside captivity, with

interbreeding and competition from domestic cats presenting a severe risk to the species.

Two of the kittens will be taken to a state-of-theart facility in the Cairngorms, where they will produce more cats, who will be released into the wild in an effort to boost native numbers.

The others will be sent to zoos across the UK.

Three of the wildcat kittens from Camperdown.