The Scottish wildcat kitten saving its species from extinction

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The unnamed male kitten was born to two pure bred Scottish wildcats, said to be Britain's rarest mammal, at Wildwood Discovery Park, near Canterbury, Kent.

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The newborn kitten with mother Flora

Its parents, Hamish and Flora, are among only 400 Scottish wildcats left in the world and scientists warn they could become extinct within our lifetime.

Wildcats have been resident in Britain for more than two million years, sharing the land with the mammoth, cave bear and cave lion long before humans found their way through Europe's forests.

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The youngster explores his surroundings

Peter Smith, chief executive of the Wildwood Trust, said that after centuries of persecution, deforestation and competition from introduced species, the numbers of Scottish wildcats plummetted.

He said: "The kitten's birth will help boost the increasingly important captive population in the UK, which could save the species from future extinction.

"The kitten was born earlier this month but it is only now that the proud mother has brought the kitten out to meet the public."

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Mother and son nuzzle together

Originally a forest dweller, the Scottish wildcat is 50 per cent larger than a domestic cat and preys mainly on rodents and small mammals but also on birds, insects, reptiles and fish.

Mr Smith said they live a solitary existence, coming together in pairs to mate for a short period of time in January and February.

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Mother and son stay alert

He added: "With extinction a possibility as soon as this decade, the next few years will be key in deciding whether the Scottish wildcat will survive.

"All wildcat species are endangered for very similar reasons across Europe, Asia and Africa. However, none are as close to extinction as the Scottish form which is Britain's rarest mammal and one of the rarest cats in the world."

The Wildwood Trust is holding a competition to name the kitten, which was born earlier this month.