Topic outline
- Fur-ocious Felines
- Which RZSS cat are you?
- Lynx reintroduction debate
Lynx reintroduction debate
Even though lynx are not currently endangered, they are locally extinct in many areas across Europe, including the UK, due to hunting and habitat loss. Some places in Europe have successfully reintroduced lynx. The debate on whether they should be reintroduced in Scotland continues. Use this guide to have your own mini debate at home and see what you decide!
What do you think? - Snow leopards in the wild
Snow leopards in the wild
Aside from our core RZSS projects, there are lots of other projects that our experts in the RZSS Conservation Team get involved in globally. The following camera trap footage was taken from a project high in the Himalayas named Project PICA (Pallas's Cat International Conservation Alliance). The footage was provided by David Barclay, a Conservation Manager with RZSS, and you can find out more about the project HERE.
Watch closely and see if you can answer the questions at the end. You can watch these brilliant snow leopards as many times as you want!
- Saving Scotland's wildcats
Saving Scotland's wildcats
The wildcat of Scotland (Felis silvestris silvestris) is Britain’s last native cat species and plays an important role in a healthy ecosystem. Sometimes called the Highland Tiger, wildcats look similar to a large tabby cat. However, there are key differences between them. Their size, markings, behaviours, and genetic makeup make wildcats distinct from domestic cats. Threatened by habitat loss, mistaken identities leading to accidental persecution, and hybridisation diluting the gene pool, wildcats in Scotland are now highly endangered. Saving Wildcats #SWAforLife is the current national project to save the native wildcat from extinction.
Spotting a Wildcat
There are seven features that we can see that help us tell the difference between wildcats and domestic cats. Use the guide below to learn about these features and challenge your identification skills!
Wildcat Identification Guide
Wildcat or not? - Wildcat crafts
- Want more purr-fect creatures?
Want more purr-fect creatures?
Discover all things tigers with these activities.
Tiger Tale
Watch the webcams to see if you can spot our Asiatic lions.
Watch the webcams to see if you can spot our Sumatran tigers!
- Extra Links