Staffin the Wildcat at Escot. Ref sho 13-16TI 8067. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)
A wildcat is settling into his new life at Escot Park.
Wildwood Trust, which operates a visitor centre at the site, has introduced Staffin as part of its rewilding programme. He will soon be joined by a young female and their offspring will be part of a national breeding programme, which aims to rescue the species from extinction. Once native across Britain, there are only 400 pure wildcats left in Scotland – the result of a loss of suitable habitat and their breeding with domestic cats, diluting the population.
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