Fundraising film screening raises support for Scottish wildcats as rewilding film festival planned

‍ An online screening of Clinging By A Claw has raised money to support vital conservation work aimed at protecting Scotland’s endangered wildcats, including sponsorship of a pair Margaret and Oscar.

Clinging By A Claw was produced by Saving Wildcats and SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and narrated by actor Sam Heughan.

The event was hosted by Climate Action North’s North East Rewilding Network (NERN) and brought together rewilders and conservation supporters for a live screening and Q&A focused on one of the UK’s most threatened mammals.

Plans are now in place to host an in-person rewilding film festival later this year.

Helena Parsons, Saving Wildcats said: “Clinging By A Claw follows ongoing conservation work aimed at preventing the extinction of the Scottish wildcat in the wild. It explores the species’ decline and the efforts underway to restore populations in Scotland.

“Screenings such as this form part of wider efforts to engage people in conservation work through film and education. We were delighted that our Field Operations Manager Louise Hughes was able to attend the online Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to hear directly about the challenges involved in our restoration work.”

Much of the current reintroduction work is taking place in the Cairngorms National Park, where carefully managed releases form part of a long-term programme to rebuild a wild population.

The work is led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which has managed the UK wildcat breeding programme since 2015. The programme has produced dozens of kittens in captivity in recent years, with selected animals considered for potential future release into the wild.

Tickets for the online screening were priced at £5, with all proceeds donated to the Saving Wildcats programme.

Sharon Lashley CEO, Climate Action North said: “The Scottish wildcat is critically endangered, so we’re delighted that we raised enough funds to support Margaret and Oscar and their kit Bramble, who is preparing to be released into the wild.”

Following the event, plans are confirmed for a wildlife and rewilding film festival later this year. Further details, including dates and location, will be announced in the coming months. Individuals are also welcome to sponsor one of the wildcats that is being cared for by Saving Wildcats.

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