A new action plan to reverse the decline of the Scottish wildcat within six years was launched today by Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse. It sets out for the first time a package of measures that a range of land managers, conservationists, and researchers agree has the best prospect for the ‘Highland Tiger.’ The aim is to conserve Scottish wildcats by reducing the chances of cross breeding with domestic and feral cats and by lowering the risk to wildcats from feline diseases. Efforts will be targeted in areas which support the most viable wildcat populations. And a conservation breeding programme will…

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS), has reported that a rarely-seen Sowerby's beaked whale and calf became stranded in the shallow waters of Village Bay, Hirta last week. The 5m long adult female and 1.5m long calf were seen in distress just before 11am on Thursday 12 September. Staff from the NTS and defence contractor QinetiQ immediately attempted to refloat the animals but, despite their quick response and strenuous efforts, were unable to successfully move the mother before it passed away. The calf freed itself without assistance and was last seen swimming out to open water. It is, however, unlikely…

The Scottish Government has announced that it will ask the public to make the final decision on choosing a national tree for Scotland. Rory Syme from the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “An official national tree would be a fantastic legacy of the Year of Natural Scotland, providing recognition of the role that native trees have in shaping the nation’s landscape and identity. “Scots pine will undoubtedly be a favourite, but many other species, such as rowan and aspen, have a rich heritage of their own and could be considered candidates. “Alex Hamilton deserves a great deal of credit for getting…

Swallows and Leach's Storm Petrels are the successes from St Kilda's bird breeding season this summer, the National Trust for Scotland reports, whilst numbers of puffins have remained the same. For the first time, a pair of migrating swallows have raised three chicks on the Hebridean island of Hirta. The nest was established in a garage operated by defence contractor, Qinetiq, who agreed to leave the doors open for the duration of the breeding season. Swallows are regular summer visitors to St Kilda, but this is the first time that they have successfully raised young. Meanwhile, efforts to monitor the…

There has been a confirmed sighting of the West Coast Community of killer whales off Peterhead, the first time members of this small and highly unique population have been reported off Scotland's east coast. Video footage of the sighting, by Peterhead man Ian Nash on 20 August, clearly shows a male whale known as ‘John Coe’, identified by a very distinctive notch in his dorsal fin, along with another male and at least one female. HWDT has been monitoring the movements of this group since the early 1990s, with sightings recorded mainly in the Hebrides as well as off Ireland…

The recent announcement by the Cairngorms National Park Authority that it will actively consider reintroducing beavers has turned attention to other species that the organisation might consider bringing back. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) asked its Ecology Advisor, Dr David Hetherington to assess the potential for conservation measures or re-introduction plans for 22 creatures which have been wiped out or badly affected by hunting, persecution and habitat loss. The species considered include the massive auroch, a form of wild cattle which died out almost 400 years ago but is used for active management of some nature reserves in continental…

The first case of ash dieback in a protected area of Scotland has been confirmed, Scottish Natural Heritage stated today. Staff from SNH and Stirling Council found a number of young ash saplings showing symptoms of chalara at Balquhidderock Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Stirling. Lab tests carried out by Forest Research at their Northern Research Station at Roslin have now confirmed chalara in two of the samples. At this stage no mature trees have been confirmed as having the infection. The disease is spread via airborne spores. Balquhidderock is privately owned but is managed by Stirling Council…