Could you be the newest Saving Wildcats volunteer?

Saving Wildcats is a partnership project lead by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), dedicated to Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery, aiming to prevent the extinction of wildcats in Scotland by breeding and releasing them into the wild.

Saving Wildcats is looking for two new volunteers to support the partnership's animal management team.

One of the vacancies is for a data volunteer to assist the ex-situ conservation (wildcat captive management) team with the classification and handling of video data obtained from CCTV footage of individual animals in the UK’s first dedicated conservation breeding for release centre for wildcats. Based at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland‘s Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, this office-based role will primarily involve handling CCTV footage, but the position may also include occasionally assisting the ex-situ conservation team with activities such as food and enrichment preparation, enclosure maintenance, and other tasks as required by the ex-situ manager. Find out more about how to apply for this role.

The other vacancy is for a volunteer to assist the animal management team with activities related to animal husbandry preparation, animal enrichment, animal observations and enclosure refurbishing. The volunteer will also have the opportunity to shadow and learn from experienced keepers directly and provide support within our conservation breeding for release centre. Interested in this role? Find out more.

Both volunteers will learn about the conservation issues affecting wildcats and the actions being taken to prevent their extinction, including the establishment of the first dedicated conservation breeding for release centre for wildcats in the UK. They will gain direct practical experience of wildcat animal management practices, wildcat observations, and behaviour development techniques.

We're looking for enthusiastic individuals with an interest in wildcats and species restorations, comfortable with outdoor working and good practical abilities and a desire to learn animal management skills and approaches.