Saving Wildcats shortlisted for prestigious award

Saving Wildcats has been shortlisted for the Great British Wildlife Restoration competition, a new one-off award scheme that recognises the incredible work being done to restore native species in the country.

We are proud to be recognised for our project which aims to prevent the extinction of wildcats in Scotland by breeding and releasing them into the wild.

The Great British Wildlife Restoration competition, inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s Wild Isles BBC TV series, has been organised by BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums). It will shine a spotlight on some of the amazing work taking place to tackle the drastic decline of our native species and will urge politicians to act now for our nature.

Saving Wildcats joins 21 other shortlisted projects. Collectively these projects have helped thousands of animals, habitats and ecosystems, as well as inspiring thousands of people with their stories.

Dr Jo Judge, CEO of BIAZA, said; “We have an extraordinary shortlist of projects. They demonstrate that zoos and aquariums are not just saving exotic species, but supporting wildlife on our doorstep.

We have to treasure the nature we have and help it thrive. It should be widely known that BIAZA zoos and aquariums are doing just that. It’s a source of hope and something we can all be proud of.”

A new report shows British wildlife is in decline and needs serious help. The State of Nature report showed 1,500 native species are at risk of being lost and 1 in 6 species are at risk of extinction. 

Dr Helen Senn, Head of Conservation and Science Programmes for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said; “Saving Wildcats is thrilled to be shortlisted for this award, which helps to showcase the crucial role that zoos can play in native species restoration.

We are lucky to have wonderful native biodiversity in Britain and it's up to all of us to protect it, including Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords. We're pleased that this award will help raise the profile of the work that we are doing to bring the Highland tiger back from the brink of extinction."

As a shortlisted project Saving Wildcats will be invited to a prestigious awards evening at the House of the Speaker of the House of Commons in January. The winner will have received the most votes from Members of Parliament or Members of the House of Lords.

Supporters of Saving Wildcats can get involved by asking their politicians to vote for the project and help spread the word of the work being done to help nature thrive.