Wildlife conservations are warning that the Scottish Wildcat population is at risk of becoming extinct. The Scottish Wildcat population is in trouble of becoming extinct, due to proposals by the Scottish government to create a new wind farm. To build this wind farm, the Scottish government would need to destroy the forest - the Clashindarroch Forest, where it is proposed to be built - which would result in a third of the Scottish Wildcat population losing their home.
The Clashindarroch Forest is home to a third of wildcats. Destroying the forest would inevitably mean that wildcat kittens would be abandoned by their mothers, or, and, both kittens and adult cats being killed or hurt as a result of the deforestation.
Deforestation And Endangered Species
How can we convince other countries to protect their endangered species, and preserve their forests, if we don't do it in our own country? We can't hope to change the behaviour of governments where the Amazon rainforest or Borneo rainforest are, who contribute to the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and the Borneo rainforest if our government chooses to contribute to deforestation and species extinction.
Other countries could say, 'Why should we protect the Borneo rainforest? Or save the Orangutan? when you don't save your forests or endangered species. It makes it harder for us to make positive change elsewhere.
Losing The Scottish Wildcat
But, more to the point, and besides the hypothetical, if we allow this forest to be felled, then we would be the generation who lost the Scottish Wildcat.
We would be the generation who let one of the few last remaining wild predators to go extinct on the British Isles. Our government would have knowingly and willingly forced the Scottish Wildcat to extinction.
There is no point in us become sentimental or regretful when the Scottish Wildcat population is as little as the Northern White Rhino. By that point, it will be too late. It isn't too late right now though. There is a tide against saving this iconic, rare and majestic cat, but, that doesn't mean it's hopeless.
Let's not make this our Northern White Rhino, instead, let's make this our Amur Leopard. The Amur Leopard once had as few as 35 left in the wild. They are a true conservation success story, who's population rose to 70 in 2016, and 103 this year, in 2018. Conservation efforts can work to pull a species back from the brink, let's make sure that is the case with the Scottish Wildcat.
If we allow our government to contribute to one species extinction, then it becomes a slippery slope where it opens the door to do this to other critically endangered animals.