While out for a walk, they discovered three abandoned kittens.
After searching the area, they could find no trace of their mother.
A surprising discovery
The walkers didn't hesitate for a moment and rushed to the rescue. They took the tiny animals to a veterinary clinic to be cared for. But when the vets examined them, they quickly realised that these weren't domestic kittens at all... They were in fact European wildcats, a protected wild species!
The vets immediately contacted a local Wildlife and Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Centre, which took over the care of the two females and one little male.
A journey back to the wild
To keep human interaction to a minimum, specialists placed them in a natural enclosure with plenty of hiding spots. They monitored them remotely using motion-activated cameras and fed them a diet of rodents.
On 15th December, after six months of rehabilitation, the young wildcats were released back into their natural habitat! They are now fully independent and will be able to contribute to the survival of this threatened species.
