Dear All
Thank you to everyone who has donated, sent us messages of support and encouragement in response to our previous update about the chronic failings of the government’s Wildcat Action Plan. We made statements regarding protocols they developed to blow cat’s heads off in traps with shotguns, and that they were deflecting/facilitating what in our opinion is the illegal logging of the Clashindarroch.
They government group, Scottish wildcat Action have now published a statement stating ‘ We can understand why some of you might find the statements of the interest group, Wildcat Haven, shocking when they accuse SWA of killing feral cats. To be clear, again, SWA staff have never used killing as a feral cat management method’.
They seem to be denying any involvement and claim to be the injured party here.
However it is all there in black and white and written by their partners, RZSS, (the owners of Edinburgh zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park) and indeed included as supporting evidence for their license application to remove wildcats from the wild. It is deeply saddening to us that even when confronted with the irrefutable facts they still can’t admit what they have done.
The key extracts state:
‘Any individuals which are obviously feral domestic cats will be dispatched according to standard predator control practices, by the land manager, with appropriate firearm in one shot with minimal time to death. The Wildcat Project Officer will be notified about such individuals and cadavers will be collected for genetic and veterinary screening, within 3 days.
Further details are provided by RZSS (owners of Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park), setting out 'Humane Dispatch Protocols' which includes the stipulation:
"Any individuals which are obviously feral domestic cats, non-native or unfit for release will be dispatched according to standard predator control practices, by the land manager, as per estate norms. Dispatch with a 12 bore shotgun using number three shot (lead shot not to be used over foreshore or wetlands), positioned 5m from the trap, aiming at the head and front of shoulder, is recommended."
The documents also note that any cats brought to the project as suspected wildcats will be killed if they do not meet the standards of a wildcat genetic test developed by RZSS:
"Such individuals will undergo the same process as licenced trapped cats, placed within quarantine facilities at HWP and undergo health, genetic and pelage screening and subsequently either included in the conservation breeding for release programme or euthanized based on the results of the screening process."
Here is the link to the full document on our website.
https://www.wildcathaven.com/news
As you can see we are in a real fight for the wildcat with the very government agencies who are claiming to save it. They are the ones logging the Clashindarroch, with licenses to remove the last wildcats from the wild for a failing captive breeding programme and with protocols for shooting cats in traps with shotguns. If we didn’t exist then this wouldn’t be exposed and the wildcat (and the other felines) would have no voice. As we are holding the government to account, we get no government funding so rely entirely on donations. If you can find it in your heart to help us then please do:
To donate £3, text WILDCAT to 70331
To donate £5, text WILDCAT to 70970
To donate £10, text WILDCAT to 70191
To donate £20, text CAT20 to 70191
The donation will come directly out of your phone bill so there is no need to enter any bank details.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS- VERY IMPORTANT. For our many international supporters, the UK text system won't work but you can donate through the weblink for our campaign at:
Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate.
We hope you are all keeping safe. More updates will follow so keep watching. To find out more visit
Many thanks in advance
The Wildcat Haven Team