Young captive-bred Scottish wildcats have been released into the Cairngorms Mountains in Scotland. <strong>Scroll through the gallery for more photos.</strong>
Young captive-bred Scottish wildcats have been released into the Cairngorms Mountains in Scotland. Scroll through the gallery for more photos.
Saving Wildcats
The species is almost extinct in the wild, with only 100 to 300 cats remaining.
The species is almost extinct in the wild, with only 100 to 300 cats remaining.
RZSS/Saving Wildcats
The kittens were born and raised in an "off-show" area at the back of Scotland's Highland Wildlife Park, which the general public don't have access to.
The kittens were born and raised in an "off-show" area at the back of Scotland's Highland Wildlife Park, which the general public don't have access to.
RZSS/Saving Wildcats
A parent of last year's kittens. The kittens stayed with their parents for six to nine months, before being moved to a separate enclosure.
A parent of last year's kittens. The kittens stayed with their parents for six to nine months, before being moved to a separate enclosure.
RZSS/Saving Wildcats
With thicker fur and more muscular bodies than domestic cats, the wildcats are well adapted for the harsh winters they will encounter in the Scottish mountains.
With thicker fur and more muscular bodies than domestic cats, the wildcats are well adapted for the harsh winters they will encounter in the Scottish mountains.
RZSS/Saving Wildcats
The cats were bred and released by Saving Wildcats, a project led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). Its partners include Andalucia's Ministry of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy, which led the successful recovery of the Iberian lynx in Spain. Pictured, an Iberian lynx in the Donana Natural Park, in Huelva, Andalucia.
The cats were bred and released by Saving Wildcats, a project led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). Its partners include Andalucia's Ministry of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy, which led the successful recovery of the Iberian lynx in Spain. Pictured, an Iberian lynx in the Donana Natural Park, in Huelva, Andalucia.
Cristina Quicler/AFP/Getty Images
Pictured, an Iberian lynx being released in Spain's Sierra de Arana mountain range in December 2022. It was one of five lynxes released as part of the "LIFE Lynx Connect" project.
Pictured, an Iberian lynx being released in Spain's Sierra de Arana mountain range in December 2022. It was one of five lynxes released as part of the "LIFE Lynx Connect" project.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images