The Five Sisters Zoo at West Calder have revealed their newest additions - three incredibly cute and rare wildcat kittens.
This brings the total number of rare kittens born at the zoo - near West Calder - to five over the past 14 months. Each kitten born as part of the international breeding program plays an important role in conserving this fragile population and bringing it back from the brink of extinction.
The kittens are now beginning to spend a lot of time outside playing and exploring their surroundings.
With estimates of only 35 remaining in the wild, Scottish wildcats are 50 times rarer than the giant panda.
And the tiny population is under threat from the destruction of their natural habitat and local un neutered domestic cats who are breeding with them, but it is hoped that international breeding program and other projects like it will be able to save the species from extinction and births of litters like this one are vital.
The zoo said: “We are incredibly proud to announce the birth of a further three rare Scottish Wildcat Kittens here at FSZ!
“Each kitten born as part of the international breeding program plays an important role in conserving this fragile population and bringing it back from the brink of extinction.”
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