New team to drive forward Scottish Wildcat Action project

Jenny Bryce of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) said: “We are delighted to unveil the new team who are tasked with co-ordinating work to preserve Scottish wildcats. Our wildcats are important to Scotland’s people, despite being rarely seen, and they are under threat as a distinctive yet iconic species.”

Dr Roo Campbell is the new project manager based at Scottish Natural Heritage’s Great Glen House in Inverness. He brings with him significant experience of carrying out research on the behaviour and ecology of Scottish wildcats.

He said “This project is the best chance for survival the Scottish wildcat has ever seen. It is one of the biggest partner-led conservation projects for any native species in Scotland, with more than 20 key organisations involved, and I am delighted to lead such a highly skilled team to take this project forward.”

The initiative also sees four new project officers. Matt Wilson is based in the priority area of Morvern and is already a well-regarded wildlife expert in the area; Keri Langridge will be based with the National Trust for Scotland covering the Strathpeffer priority area and brings with her experience of working as an ecological consultant and for Cat’s Protection; Emma Rawling is to be based with Forestry Commission Scotland at Newton, Elgin, covering Strathbogie and Strathavon and has previously co-ordinated community-based projects involving monitoring and trapping of squirrels for the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrel’s project.

And Highland Wildlife Park-based Hebe Carus will cover Northern Strathspey and the Angus Glens. Hebe has previously worked with a range of land managers on access and environmental projects.

The partnership project also has an Edinburgh-based communications coordinator in the form of Vicky Macdonald who is based at the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Vicky has a background in third sector communications and marketing.

Scottish Wildcat Action is a five-year project which will focus on the wildcat priority areas outlined in the national action plan and is supported by Heritage Lottery Funding.

The six wildcat priority areas comprise more than 64,000 hectares of wildcat habitat and are:

• Angus Glens

• Strathbogie, Aberdeenshire

• Morvern, Lochaber

• Strathpeffer, Easter Ross

• Strathavon, Moray

• Northern Strathspey

Scottish Wildcat Action will work in the six priority wildcat areas to reduce hybridisation and disease from feral and domestic cats, accidental persecution, and impacts from development.

The team were in Inverness this week tackling training on wildcat surveying using trail cameras and recording sightings.

They also learned about the new support available to land managers through the Scottish Rural Development Programme and they are committed to contacting land managers in the priority areas. If they are interested in getting involved, the team will seek to establish a network of camera traps (motion-sensitive cameras) across these areas to discover more about cats living wild in their area.

The team will also be making contact with local vets and Cat’s Protection branches to co-ordinate a programme of trapping, neutering, vaccinating and releasing feral cats to ensure they do not cross-breed with wildcats.

Roo Campbell added: “We have five years to stop wildcats from disappearing but we need to improve the fortunes for Scottish wildcats in the long term. That means leaving a legacy by reducing the risks from hybridisation and disease, and the chances of accidental harm from predator control activities. Success depends on working with local people to make a difference for the wildcats in their area. Together, we can ensure that the Scottish wildcat survives not just over the next five years but into the future.”

The partners are delighted at the response from local people so far and hope to be able to build on this now the team are in place.

The team would be delighted to hear from people interested in getting involved with the project or with reporting any sightings of wild-living cats in the priority areas, whether feral domestic cats, hybrids or wildcats.