Four months after being born at Chester Zoo, footage has finally been released of the newest Highland Tiger kitten. The female, who is currently nameless, is also known as a Scottish wildcat. It’s estimated that there are only 100 left in the wild. The Highland Tiger has now become Britain’s rarest mammal to date.
![](https://images.upbeatnews.com/posts/4533/Dt0pRXtWwAEEH20.jpg)
The kitten was born this past August as part of a breeding program to prevent the species from going extinct. Its parents, Einich and Cromarty, have been fiercely protective. Highland Tigers used to be a common wildcat in Britain, but were hunted for pelts and killed to curb them from preying on game birds.
A Scottish wildcat kitten â the U.K.'s rarest animal â was captured on camera for the first time months after it was born. pic.twitter.com/VfPoY3bODn
— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) December 8, 2018
Wildcats are now protected by UK laws as they are the only remaining wild feline species. They are still threatened by habitat loss, cross-breeding with domestic cats, and disease. Hopefully, the breeding program will help to reintroduce Highland Tigers into the wild in the future.
The kitten fiercely resembles a domestic cat species, making them harder to identify and protect, though. Hopefully, this bundle of joy is just the first of many to help rejuvenate the population.