A fundraising drive has been launched to develop a network of reserves to protect one of the country’s most endangered species.
Only 35 pure Scottish wildcats are thought to be left in the wild, making them 70 times rarer than giant pandas.
In order to prevent cross-breeding with domestic and feral casts – a major factor behind the severe decline in the population – plans for creating a network of protected wildcat reserves have been launched.
A Crowdfunding campaign to pay for the plots of land in the west Highland, as well as the expansion of ongoing fieldwork as part of the Wildcat Haven project, an initiative established by the Scottish Wildcat Association in 2008.
Until now the initiative has worked on small budgets from public donations and US grant givers, to prevent wildcats from hybridising into the feral cat gene-pool by neutering away feral cat populations.
Nearly 500 sq miles of safe haven has been established on the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas by working with landowners and local communities.
Now, the organisation wants to accelerate this current work and develop its wildcat reserves across the west Highlands.
It has borrowed a model from long-term sponsor Highland Titles, a gift company selling micro plots of land in its nature reserves. Supporters obtain a personal right to a souvenir plot of land and any landowner will be able to stylise themselves as a laird or lady.
These plots will be managed to remove invasive plant species, creating a natural Caledonian Forest ecosystem that wildcats can thrive in.
Wildcat prey species and other natives will be encouraged, but non-natives such as feral cats will be kept out.
Dr Paul O’Donoghue, chief scientific advisor to the project, said: “Partnering with landowners is critical to creating a haven large enough to home a sustainable population of wildcats, but amongst these landscapes we need reserves where the wildcat is the absolute priority. These oases act as strongholds for wildcat populations that can never be developed, deforested or covered in windmills.”
Highland Titles chairman Peter Bevis said: “It’s a bit of fun, being Laird of an estate, even if the estate is only a square foot of land. The important thing is that now all those square feet will add up to reserves and the resources to save the wildcat, driving fieldwork like feral cat neutering.”
Gift plots of land are available now from www.wildcathaven.com from £30 and a range of merchandise will be added in the near future.