Cats in Captivity in Scotland

Seanna, the female Lynx at the Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig

We are attempting to carry out a survey of all the cats in captivity in Scotland. If you have any additions or corrections to this list, please contact us.

Zoos and collections

The number of cats in captivity appears to have greatly reduced in the past few years with zoos concentrating on specialising in the breeding of rare species rather than simply exhibiting animals for human pleasure. While there are still Bengal tigers, Amur (Siberian) tigers, lions, cheetah, snow leopards, European lynx and Scottish wildcats in captivity, we have been unable to confirm the existence of several species which were exhibited in the past including jaguars, pumas, marguay, jungle cats and leopard cats.

	Edinburgh Zoo http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/ Murrayfield, Edinburgh Edinburgh Zoo was opened by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland in 1909. Several years ago, Edinburgh had over a dozen species of cats including lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, clouded leopards, snow leopards, pumas, European lynx, leopard cats, jungle cats, margay and Scottish wildcats. The zoo no longer has leopard cats, jungle cats, margay or wildcats. We are greatful to Jim Macdonald for the information on the cats at Edinburgh and Allan Muir for his updates to the animals kept and Edinburgh, Glasgow and Blair Drummond.
	Calderpark Zoo, Glasgow (now closed) http://www.glasgowzoo.co.uk/ Uddingston, Glasgow Glasgow Zoo was run by the Zoological Society of Glasgow and West of Scotland. It opened in 1947 and closed on 25 th August 2003. Several years ago the zoo housed black leopards, jaguar, leopard cats and lions, one of which had a large black patch on its leg and chest. As with other collections, the number of cats was reduced and before theyclosed they had Bengal tigers, African lions and cheetahs. The zoo had an excellent and informative website.
	Blair Drummond Safari Park http://www.safari-park.co.uk/ Blair Drummond, near Stirling Scotland's Safari Park was opened in 1970. A large number of lions have been born here and the park also houses a number of Siberian (or Amur) Tigers.
	Highland Wildlife Park http://www.kincraig.com/wildlife Kingcraig, Kingussie The Highland Wildlife Park was opened in 1972 and houses animals which live or lived in Scotland. Between 1980 and 1985, Felicity the puma, who was caught by Ted Noble near Callanish, was kept here. The collection current included lynx (Brian and Seanna) and wildcats The male died in the winter of 2000/2001, but was replaced. The female has been sponsored by the Canadian Branch of the Clan Macpherson Association for several years and in 2003 four kittens were born. The females were named Feshie, Tromie and Cuilin while the male was named Cluny after the chief of Clan Macpherson. We are grateful to Roderick W. Clarke for information on the wildcats.
	Aberdeen Zoo (now a "Pets Corner") Hazelhead Park, Aberdeen. Aberdeen Zoo was opened in 1966 by the Aberdeen & North of Scotland Zoological Society. Initially it was a small zoo with about 200 mammals and 400 birds including wildcats and pumas. Since then the collection has been scaled down considerably to a "Pet's Corner" and there are no longer any cats.
	Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park http://www.gallowaywildlife.co.uk/ Kirkcudbright Telephone 01557 331 645 This park was previously called "Wildlife Park Kirkcudbright". It is involved in endangered species programs and are part of the Species Conservation Programme. This involvement has included protection of the native Scottish Wildcat aswell as the European Polecat. Other threatened species to be seen at the park include lesser pandas, South American bush dogs, collared peccaries, caracal and lynx. The park hit the news on 25 th November 2002 when an African caracal escaped. It was recaptured, safe and sound, on the 13 th December.

The Camperdown Park Wildlife Centre in Dundee (tel 01382 432689) has not only a Scottish Wildcat but also a European Lynx, a couple of Siberian Wolves, two European Brown Bears, Arctic and Red Foxes, and a very good selection of native and previously native, but now extinct, mammals and birds.

Conditions for the animals are remarkably good given the small scale of the centre thanks to the good work of Dundee City Council's staff - well worth a visit.

Ralph Barnett

I think the Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre near Comrie (tel 01764 679469) also has a wildcat in its collection and is also in an area where they exist in the wild.

Ardnamurchan probably has a resident population but the only place I have ever seen one - and only one in 20-plus years of fairly regular hill-walking and climbing! - was in the hills above Tomintoul.

Ralph Barnett

In 1997, Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld had five lynx. I don't know what the up to date situation is.

Chris Smith

In the brochure/Edinburgh Zoo guide they specify particular cats but this must be out of date. They do have an immpressive selection of cats although I was very dissapointed as in the guide they stated they had Jungle cats but I could find none. Possibly i just missed the enclosure. What they do have are Siberian Tigers, Snow Leopard, two subspecies of Leopard, I think Persian and Amur. Also they have Jaguar and two enclosures with Siberian Lynx as they are commited to a breeding programme.

Mike Inglis

Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld has a small collection of native scottish wildcats. They most certainly had a litter of 2 or 3 in 2002. A custom built enclosure with plenty to do and lots of cover for those more shy specimens. These beautiful cats seem relaxed and well looked after.

Symon Miller

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