A new update on the Save the Scottish Wildcat petition from Wildcat Haven has said that the home of the critically endangered Scottish Wildcat - the Clashindarroch forest - has been deforested and logged, wood is being shipped out on lorries (as you can see from the picture above).
This update from Wildcat Haven is one of the latest updates they have shared about what is happening with the Scottish Wildcats habitat.
There have been other updates that Wildcat Haven has shared over the festive season - that they have found evidence of deforestation in the Clashindarroch forest and they have also found evidence that critically endangered Scottish Wildcats are living within the forest right now.
Wildcat Haven says that a third of the Scottish Wildcat population lives within the Clashindarroch forest - there are 13 Scottish Wildcats there. There are only thought to be, at maximum, 35 Scottish Wildcats within the wild in Scotland, their biggest population is found within this forests, and, wildlife conservationists believe that if we lose the Scottish Wildcat within the Clashindarroch forest, then we will lose the Scottish Wildcat and they will become extinct. That is why it is vital to save this forest.
By law, the Scottish Wildcat is supposed to be protected by law. The UK government gave legal protection to the Scottish Wildcat in the 1980's. However, environmental laws are now devolved to the Scottish parliament, and the current Scottish government has decided to to destroy the Clashindarroch forest for wind farms and potentially logging. Sadly, more deforestation could potentially be on the cards for the Clashindarroch forest as another wind farm could be given the go ahead within the Clashindarroch forest, and therefore, if there is more deforestation within the forest, it will result in the destruction of the Scottish Wildcats home and potentially cause their extinction.
You can help save the Scottish Wildcat by signing the Save the Scottish Wildcat petition, if you haven't already! - you can find the petition - here!