New footage showing a Scottish wildcat hunting reveals a previously unseen behaviour, a conservation group has said.
Wildcat Haven captured the footage of the elusive wildcat at Clashindarroch in Aberdeenshire at the start of April.
The conservation group said that it shows the animal, affectionately nicknamed the Clashindarroch Beast, stalking its prey rather than ambushing it as previously thought.
Director of Wildlife Haven, Dr Paul O’Donoghue, said he had “never seen” this hunting behaviour before.
“We thought they were ambush predators that would stalk and jump on prey, but they are scanning and it seems like the wildcat senses the mouse from ten or 12 metres away.
Supplied“The precision is spectacular, the second the mouse stops the wildcat leaps on it and bounds away in almost one movement,” he told STV News.
He added that the video was captured right in the middle of the breeding season for wildcat’s meaning the footage could show a female hunting for their kittens.
Dr O’Donoghue said that it was the “most impressive” hunting display he has ever seen adding that the footage highlights the importance of protecting the species.
“It’s the most magnificent predator in the UK, and one of the rarest cats on planet earth.
“We know it’s not rocket science to protect them, they want a forest area and to be left in peace and it’s why we started our campaign to save Clashindarroch forest,” he said.
Wildcat Haven launched a petition to protect the Scottish wildcat’s in 2018 and have amassed over one million supporters.
An achievement Dr O’Donoghue said shows the level of “love and care and compassion for this Scottish icon”.
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