Campaigns
Wildcat Haven | World Leading Breeding | Public Awareness | bansnares.com

We approach each threat to the wildcat's conservation with a variety of campaigns aimed to create change or find solutions that conserve the wildcat in the wild and encourage people of all ages, nationalities and walks of life to get involved in saving these unique creatures.

You can support all of these campaigns by donating to the charity or joining as a member!

Wildcat Haven
Inspired by our patron Mike Tomkies, Project Wildcat Haven is a campaign designed to save the Scottish wildcat forever. Learn more on the Wildcat Haven site.

Get involved!
Volunteer to take part in fieldwork

Results
First year fully funded, project team fully assembled, 18 months of action planning almost complete.

Supporting captive breeding-for-release
We don't want to see wildcats in captivity, but captive breeding may be the last hope this species has. We are working closely with the official breeding program to create exceptional enclosures for wildcats to live and raise kittens in. Find out more about our plans on the World Leading Breeding Campaign page and more about the excellent work of the breeding program on the Breeding Program page.

Get involved!
Spend a day at a breeding program park (links here)
Volunteer at a park caring for wildcats and other animals
Donate to the SWA or direct to breeding parks
Take part in the sponsorship programs some parks offer
Organisations and individuals able to make a donation of £1000 or more get involved now!

Results
Two wildcat tree walkways installed, one being built and two new open air enclosures with real trees and walkways part funded and being designed!

Public awareness campaign
Public awareness of the wildcat and its threats is essential; control of domestic cats can only happen if everyone understands the issues, and public and private financial support is essential in funding research and conservation. We will seek to connect with the wider public through a mixture of promotional and publicity activities.

Get involved!
Learn the facts from this website then tell everyone!
Join our social network profiles (links top right) and invite your friends
Write a wildcat blog or add one of our campaign banners
Submit articles to newspapers, magazines or newsletters
Contact Coffee Films to arrange a screening of the film
Arrange fundraising at Highland Games or cat shows
Volunteer to distriute leaflets

Results
A few years ago few people outside the Highlands were aware a Scottish wildcat existed. Today UK press and media are showing incredible support for the wildcat especially throughout Scotland, and specialist conservation and feline magazines and webzines have taken the story international with around 15,000 people signed up to our mailing list and social networks; keep spreading the word!

Calling for a ban on snares in Scotland
Alongside a number of other charities we pressure the Scottish National Parliament to ban the use of snares in Scotland. These indiscriminate traps are set for foxes and rabbits but are just as likely to kill badger, mountain hare, otter, domestic cat and wildcat. We support the complete ban on these cruel trapping devices in line with many other European countries and hope to help farmers find practical, effective and humane alternative means of pest control.

Get involved!
Visit the campaign website at www.bansnares.com
to find links to the latest campaigns

Results
New legislation has tightened regulations, but 77% of Scots still want an outright ban.

Supporting scientific research
We maintain a database of Scottish wildcat sightings for use by conservation researchers in planning fieldwork and estimating populations and to respond to requests from developers and planners carrying out environmental assessments.

Get involved!
If you see a wildcat tell us via our sightings page
Click the link to learn how to identify a wildcat

Results
Since launching our call for sightings in March 2007 we have received almost a thousand; the data has already been used in an SNH population survey and is being utilised by Oxford University researchers to plan future projects as well as our own Wildcat Haven project team.