The Cairngorms National Park planning committee has approved plans for a breeding centre in the Highlands to offer a last chance for Scotland’s iconic wildcats.
Yesterday the committee gave the green light to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) proposals to build 12 timber framed, mesh roofed breeding enclosures and eight fenced pre-release enclosures on a site to the rear of its Highland Wildlife Park attraction at Kincraig.
The RZSS is to begin work as soon as possible on the breeding centre, which is seen as a last chance for the species after a report concluded that there was no longer a viable population living naturally in Scotland.
The centre will provide facilities for breeding, veterinary care, remote monitoring and training, with wildcats potentially being released into Cairngorms National Park from 2022.
RZSS, which already runs a conservation breeding programme for wildcats, is collaborating with a network of other institutions to provide animals for the pioneering wider scheme.
It is hoped the development will be ready in time to ensure kittens reared earlier this year can enter the breeding programme at the park this winter.
Planning officer Katie Crerar said: “The development is perfectly acceptable in this location with the style and purpose of the project being compatible with what is already happening at the Highland Wildlife Park.”
While Saving Wildcats poroject manager, Ian Simpson, was “thrilled” that the plans were approved for the centre which will prepare the cats for the wild.
RZSS is still awaiting formal planning permission from the Highland Council.