The Tigers of Scotland
2017 | Documentary | 63m
Scottish Wildcats are affectionately known as Highland Tigers. The name originates from their striped fur and that they’re not only one of Britain’s largest predators, but the UK’s only ‘big cat’.
Narrated by Iain Glen, the Tigers of Scotland focuses on the fragile existence of the Wildcats, their status and what conservation efforts are being undertaken to ensure their survival. Bringing knowledge of their existence and awareness of their status to a wider audience is crucial to preventing their extinction.
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Originally released on Netflix in 2018, the full length directors cut is now available to view for free on YouTube, and in 4K for the first time.
The Wildcats
Scottish Wildcats are a distinctly different species than a typical house cat and are in fact around 25% larger than your neighbourhood moggy.
Britain's Only Big Cat
Scottish Wildcats are native to Britain and were once found throughout England and Wales as well as Scotland. They are now confined to the upper Highlands of Scotland. These animals are elusive and to see one in the wild is an incredibly special event.
Dwindling Numbers
Just a couple of years ago experts believed that there were between 35 and 100 pure breed Scottish Wildcats and up to 400 hybrids. The latest estimate is that there are up to 100 hybrids with the possibility that there are no 100% pure Wildcats left.
Threats To Wildcats
The main threat is hybridisation – this is where Wildcats and domestic cats mate. Hybrid offspring are fertile and the mix of genes can cause problems for these animals. Hybrids with high quality genetics are a potential saviour for the species though.
Conservation Efforts
Several conservation bodies are working to save the Scottish Wildcat from extinction. Their efforts include a captive breeding programme, a programme to vaccinate and neuter feral, farm and pet cats and the monitoring of habitats.
Conservation
We’ve spoken to some of the leading experts regarding the Wildcat’s prospect of survival.
With recent research it’s really starting to look like numbers are much, much lower than we first appreciated. Within the Scottish Wildcat population, we really don’t know if there’s even a one hundred percent pure Wildcat. All the ones that have been tested so far, there has been no one hundred percent Wildcat.
I would say the Wildcat is probably one of the most rare species in Britain. That’s probably due to two different things. There is the fact that Wildcats, being a cat and being a predator, they’re naturally very elusive animals anyway. But also, there are very, very few of them left, so they’re very rare animals. They’re one of the most difficult animals to see in Britain.
I think if we don’t do something – something really significant – we’re going to lose this really iconic, emblematic species from the Scottish Highlands, and that would be a dreadful thing. We’ve really got to work hard, and by “we” I mean everybody who lives and works in the countryside. We all need to be doing our bit because I think we can save it.
The Wildcat unfortunately has this relationship with the domestic cat where it produces fully fertile young. So once you get a young hybrid Wildcat/domestic cat, it can breed with a Wildcat again and so you can keep on diluting the genes, and this is a big problem.
Contributors
Thank you to everyone who has contributed towards the film. Without your help, the film would not have been possible.
Adrian Jamieson Pope
Alex Coates
Andrew Davies
Andrew Pallett
Andrew Smith
Annmarie Johnston
Ben Cockram
Caroline Mapplebeck
Chris Cronin
Chris Fisher
Clare Roberts
Connie Eggers
Dan Tunstall
Dave Archibald
David Fiedler
David Morley
Debs Pursey
Diana Davies
Edward Stone
Emmeline Kellett
Frank Etchells
Gareth Work
Gordon Corrins
Harold Barham
Helen Connor
Ihsan Alnasrawi
James MacKinnon
James Wylie
Jane McConnell
Jen Hingley
Jen Wilkins
Jim Nelson
Jo Skinner
Joan Geice
Joe Chappell
Joe Medlock
Jonathan Rice
Jonathon Reynolds
Jorge Gonçalves
Karo Siu
Kyle Cherry
Laura Rice
Lisa Marley
Lloyd Cockram
Malcolm Gibbons
Malcolm Ranald Paterson
Mathew Bishop
Mayed Al Qasimi
Paul Gater
Pippa Wood
Rachel Furnival
Rewild Scotland
Richard Abram
Rose Hindley
Sal Redpath
Sam Cronin
Sam Twyman
Sandy Scott
Scotland: The Big Picture
Steph Paterson
Steve Webster
Sue Barratt
Tarek Hijaz
Theo De Kok
Tobias Palma
Todd Ludeke
Tom Cottam
Vicki Copeland
Vincent Sartorius
Wendy Meredith
Wilco Krul
Zoe Davies
This film was also supported by
Donate
Should you wish to support the conservation work helping the Scottish Wildcat, we suggest donating to the following organisations.
