New Forest Wildlife Park welcomes Scottish wildcats

THERE’S claws for celebration at the New Forest Wildlife Park with its latest arrivals – a pair of Scottish wildcats.

Brothers Beinne and Halum are two of a critically endangered species in the UK – there are believed to be about 100 remaining.

The duo were born at Highland Wildlife Park in February 2020 and have made the journey to Ashurst as part of ongoing conservation efforts.

A wildcat enclosure at New Forest Wildlife Park was badly damaged in 2022 and its previous residents had to be rehomed.

Following this, managing director Ed Heap spearheaded the design of brand-new, state-of-the-art enclosures, built in-house by the park's maintenance team.

Beinne and Halum are now enjoying their new home.

Mr Heap said: “We're thrilled to give Beinne and Halum a new home; Scottish wildcats are an iconic British species on the brink of extinction.

“By welcoming them to the park, we can educate our visitors about the threats they face and the critical conservation work being done to save them."

Once widely seen across the UK, the Scottish wildcat is now limited to northern and eastern Scotland.

The New Forest Wildlife Park is a partner with the Saving Wildcats initiative and participates in the European Studbook (EAZA EEP) for Scottish wildcats. Over the years, the park has celebrated the birth of 15 successful wildcat litters.

Senior keeper Lizzy McNamara said: "Scottish wildcats have suffered from habitat loss and persecution. Also, the increasing hybridisation with domestic and feral cats means that the wild population can be considered functionally extinct and, without urgent action, they will sadly become extinct.

“Captive breeding programmes are vital to maintaining a healthy wildcat population and raising awareness about the species."

For more information visit newforestwildlifepark.co.uk