Roadside rescue for rare wildcat kittens
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TWO orphaned Scottish wildcat kittens have been rescued by conservation group Wildcat Haven, and moved to a purpose-built rehabilitation and release centre in the West Highlands.
They will be released back into the wild at the first opportunity and will, say experts, provide a "priceless" addition to the wild population.
The new-born kittens were spotted, apparently orphaned and not far from a road earlier this month by a passer-by who contacted the conservation group and kept a watch on the kittens.
Twenty-four hours after the original sighting, there was still no sign of the mother returning and fears were mounting as the kittens were moving closer to the road.
The first Wildcat Haven workers to arrive on the scene, Charlie Chandler and Savannah Brownlow, were greeted by the eyewitness carrying the two weak and dehydrated wildcats wrapped in his jacket.
An immediate task was to set up cameras and bait to ensure that workers would know if the mother returned.
Meantime, the kittens were placed in bedding and given food. Wildcat Haven's chief scientific advisor Dr Paul O'Donoghue said: "By next morning after some food and water the timid kittens had transformed entirely.
"We now had two spitting balls of fury in their place.
"They were little mini wildcats stamping, hissing and growling, displaying all the explosive aggression typical of the species, reputed to be untameable."
Wildlife film-maker Steve Piper, who has worked with wildcats for 15 years, spent several days searching he area for the mother, to no avail.
Dr O'Donoghue said: "Nothing was caught on the cameras, there was no tracks, no eyeshine or calling in the night.
"Perhaps she was run over, perhaps snared, sadly there are a lot of threats out there for wildcats.
"These two orphans were incredibly lucky to be found in time."
The kittens received a clean bill of health from a vet and were taken to a specially designed wildcat rescue facility in the West Highland, established last year by conservation group, Highland Titles, a long term supporter of Wildcat Haven's work.
Conservation group vet Nick Morphet initially kept a 24-hour watch on the kittens, sleeping close by them, to ensure they settled in safely.
Dr Donaghue said: "There was little need to worry though, true to their heritage as one of nature's most stubborn survivors, the kittens were out of their den and exploring within half an hour."
He added: "I am overjoyed that we've been able to give these two orphaned wildcat kittens a lifeline.
"They're safe in the largest wildcat enclosure in Europe, Highland Titles have literally put a fence round a forest, there's even a stream.
"I hope everyone across the Highlands remembers we have this facility available; for orphaned kittens or injured adults,
"We must do everything we can to keep as many wildcats in the wild as possible.
"The look in these kitten's eyes tells you immediately that they don't belong in a cage.
"Once these kittens are old enough they will be released at the first opportunity."
According to Wildcat Haven, feral cats now outnumber wildcats in the Highlands by as many as 3000 to one and the gene pool is diminishing.
They say there are only 35 pure Scottish wildcats left in the world.
