A rare encounter occurred on the River Spey in Scotland: a female Scottish wildcat named Sally confidently crossed the water. This is the first documented observation of such behavior in the wild, and it immediately caught the attention of conservationists.
Sally was born in captivity in 2022 and was released into the Cairngorms in 2024 as part of the Saving Wildcats project, led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. She is fitted with a GPS collar, which allowed the animal to be identified. A group of friends canoeing—Craig Porter, David McKillop, and Will Walter—spotted the cat this summer and captured video and photographs.
Scottish wildcats (Felis silvestris) are sturdy, muscular animals with longer legs and broader heads compared to domestic cats. They are often called the "Highland tigers." They have almost disappeared in the wild: as of 2018, the species was considered functionally extinct due to habitat loss, vehicle collisions, hybridization with domestic cats, and disease.
The breeding and release project has already shown encouraging results. In 2023, 19 individuals were released with high survival rates, and another nine in 2024. Observing Sally helps to better understand the behavior of animals after reintroduction and their ability to adapt to new conditions, including overcoming water barriers.
Such encounters remind us how fragile the line is between success and threat for rare species. Even a small change in behavior—such as a willingness to swim—can signal how animals are exploring territory and surviving in a changing environment.
Conserving the Scottish wildcat requires not only releasing individuals but also protecting them from hybridization and disease, as well as preserving the natural landscapes of the Cairngorms. Each new observation strengthens the hope for the recovery of the population.
This discovery underscores the value of long-term reintroduction programs for restoring endangered species to their historical ranges.
