Twist in tale after Ross road wildcat rescue drama
A WILDCAT at the centre of a dramatic Ross-shire road rescue may now play a vital role in a bid to secure the future of the rare species.
Plucked from almost-certain death by a big-hearted passer-by after being struck by a vehicle on the busy A862 road, the cat was rushed to a local vet who sprang into action out of hours to instigate “touch-and-go” life-saving surgery.
Now it has emerged that Bhreagha — the Gaelic for “beautiful” — may become part of a Highland breeding programme under the watchful eye of experts at the Highland Wildlife Park, which provides specialist care for the endangered species.
Paco Morera, the principal of Easter Ross Vets, told yesterday how the badly concussed creature was brought in with a massive head injury and a broken left hind leg last Thursday night.
The dramatic turn of events came just days after a wildlife group warned that wildcats face extinction without a major intervention. When Breagha is judged to be well enough, DNA tests will be carried out to confirm whether she is a pure wildcat.
Said Mr Morera: “The main concern was the head injury. It was very touch and go for the first 24 hours, but we were able to carry out surgery on her leg, which was broken in three places and needed to be plated.
“Eventually, with medication, she started to come round and show her true colours — being not very friendly at all!”
Yet despite the anticipated £2,000 cost of surgery and her aftercare — the bulk of which he’ll bear himself — Mr Morera described her as “an absolutely gorgeous” creature and voiced hope that good would come out of the drama.
While he expects she will not be well enough to be released back into the wild, Mr Morera is hopeful she may become part of a breeding programme at Kincraig.
He said: “They have already prepared a pen there. It all depends on the healing process. The fact that she is a female gives her added value — she could do a lot of good.
“Out of what could have happened, I think she will have a good life. I’ve never treated a wildcat before so it has been a privilege. She can be very stroppy and cross but she is absolutely gorgeous, quite amazing.”
He admitted: “She has been very lucky that someone had the guts and the patience to stop and pick her off the road.”
His top priority was to secure the best outcome for the “patient”, he insisted.
She was spotted lying badly injured by Marianne Robinson, a primary school teacher at Kiltearn, less than half a mile south of the Ardullie roundabout.
“I just saw this cat in the middle of the road lying down but with her head up,” she recalled. I immediately said ‘that’s a wildcat’. By that time I had slowed down and went round the roundabout and headed back towards it. I just thought I couldn’t leave it lying there.”
Two other motorists stopped to help as Marianne scooped up the badly injured creature and placed it in the footwell of her car. “She was very concussed and panting badly. The rear leg looked very dislocated. She was quite smashed up,” she said.
After getting the cat to the vet at Invergordon there was an anxious wait to see whether she would make it. “She got through the night and was then apparently quite agitated when she came round,” said Marianne.
News of the drama has captured the imagination of her pupils, who have been drawing pictures for Bhreagha.
Marianne, who was keen to pay tribute to the quick-thinking response by Easter Ross vets and to highlight the plight of the wildcat population, described her as “absolutely beautiful”.
Her sons, Finn (12) and Calum (10). were both “in awe” and keen to be kept abreast of the wildcat’s progress.
A report on a project funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) estimated that there are only 150 breeding pairs left.
Some estimates have put that figure as low as 35.
Disease and inter-breeding with domestic and feral cats are among the main threats to numbers of pure-bred wildcats.
