AN international animal welfare group has praised a project to save the Scottish wildcat that has been running in the Highlands since 2008.
Humane Society International has praised Wildcat Haven for its innovative use of “trap-neuterreturn”
(TNR) controls of feral cats to help conserve wildcats, whose population is estimated to be as low as 35 in Scotland.
The main threat to them is hybridisation – cross-mating – with feral domestic cats. This has left them up to 70 times scarcer than the giant panda.
Wildcat Haven has has neutered feral cat populations across almost 500 square miles of wildcat habitat.
Claire Bass of Humane Society International UK said: “It’s extremely encouraging to see that the Ardnamurchan and
Morvern communities have been so engaged and supportive.
“The outcomes benefit companion animals and feral cat populations, and give the best chance of survival to this iconic endangered species.”
Wildcat Haven’s chief scientific adviser Dr Paul O’Donoghue, added: “This is a critical time for the wildcat but also an exciting one as the
Haven project is really building momentum. Not only is the haven area expanding year on year, but by launching a new crowd funding approach to buying nature reserves for wildcats, we are now offering an opportunity for everyone to get involved.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here