Safe haven for Scottish wildcat!

A new designated wildcat sanctuary has been placed in a remote location on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, which is located in the north west Highlands, Scottland, in the hope to be able to preserve the species.

Scottish wildcats numbers have dramatically reduced as they are able to mate with domestic cats and so, diluting the pure bred wildcat genes. This problem, along with habitat destruction and disease has now placed the species on the brink of extinction in the wild.

The new sanctuaries rural location means that the likelihood of domestic and wildcats mixing is very slim and all domestic cats, especially the feral individuals is the surrounding areas are being neutered to reduce the chance again.This is the first time feral cats have been controlled in a large area and it is likely that the population with die off in a few years preventing any cross breeding that would be detrimental to the project. The number of wildcats left in the wild is not known and could be as low as 35 which makes this project even more important to the species survival.

Let hope that this new plan allows wildcat numbers to increase and enables the species to be brought back from the brink of extinction in the wild. To help support or donate to this amazing project, please click on the first link below, their website also has loads more information about the area and the work underway.

To read more...
http://www.wildcathaven.co.uk/
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/environment/haven-to-save-the-wildcat-from-total-extinction.24748248
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-28315555

Werewolves

I have seen many animals, but nothing quite like this species of cat called Lykoi. They look like little werewolves which I reckon could have some movie fans going wild, especially if you're a Wolverine fan
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The feline species have no hair around their eyes, nose or mouth and are said to act a lot like dogs. The species arose from a natural mutation that occurs in the black domestic cat.
I still can't make my mind up whether or not I feel they are cute but I guess you can make up your own mind. Let me know what you think?

Do you want a cat that looks like a wolf, just like it name suggests or, is it just a little to far into the fantasy world for your liking?

How others see..

Ever wondered how a cat, dog or even a shark really see? Well this clever video gives you that answer.

Now that revision procrastination  is slowly kicking in, there is nothing better than endless youtube to help avoid the dreaded subject.

Breeding hope for Wildcats

Wildcat numbers have been in steep decline due to cross breeding with feral cats, their habitat being destroyed and diseases. The number is now only believed to be around 100 pure bred individuals left in the wild to date.

The lottery fund in September donated money for a new conservation programme to aid with the neutering of feral cats and reducing risks to the rare breed. There has also become a captive breeding programme set up in which the first kittens have been born at Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig. These are the first 2 individuals to be born since the Wildcat Conservation Action Plan was created and it is thought that the Highland Wildlife Park will be one of the main breeding centers to breed wildcats in Scotland with the hope that, individuals will be released into the wild if the breeding programme is successful.

The Action Plan consists of 3 big ideas: Identify 5 areas where wildcats can be conserved, reduce risks in those 5 protected areas and then the captive breeding programme along with ecological research to aid the knowledge of the cats. This hopeful action plan is aiming to of halted decline within 6 years giving the Scottish Wildcat a fighting chance against extinction.

To read more about the kittens, the Action Plan and to learn more about the species see the links below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24613855

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24208759

http://www.rzss.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/press-release?urlName=more-puuurr-fect-highland-kittens

http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/wildlife/wildcatconservationactionplan.pdf

http://www.scottishwildcats.co.uk/

Photography - Week 1,2 & 3

This year I have taken a Photography Elective so that I could learn more about photography, different skills and techniques along with getting to have fun taking more pictures and experimenting of how to use my camera.

The first project we were given was a 'self portrait' although your face didnt have to be in it. I decided to take photographs of me dancing as dance was such a huge part of my life when I was younger. I hadn't stepped on a stage for 2 years so getting to put my shoes back on was definitely liberating even if it was just to take some pictures.

The second project was to tell a story with a photograph, which was certainly harder. When I was at home at the weekend though i dragged my six year old brother out into the garden and photographed him. The result was the picture below.

The third project was to photograph something funny. This was really hard. I originally wanted to get a picture of my cat scooping out his cat buscuits from the go cat box but sadly there was no such luck. It ended up though that our house fridge broke and I captured my flat mate with the door that had fallen. People laughed so at least it worked, I can hardly say that its a 'good' picture though. 3 week of photography down and so far I feel like I really need to get Photoshop!