An adorable video has shown the moment a trio of wildcat kittens recently born at a Scottish conservation centre learn to pounce as they explore their new surroundings.
The kittens, which will become the first of their species to be released into the wild in the UK, are the result of the work of the Saving Wildcats campaign.
Posting the clip on their official Facebook page, the project team wrote: "Kittens can learn A LOT from their siblings, like how to pounce on prey."
The project is working with wildlife experts to try to restore Scotland's critically endangered wildcat population.
One follower posted: "Three little kittens, playing around full of fun, totally unaware of just how important they are."
The native Scottish wildcat is sixteen times rarer than the Giant panda, with just over 100 of them believed to be left in the wild.
Dubbed Highland Tigers, these elusive creatures are under threat from unneutered domestic pet cats who breed with them and the destruction of their natural territories.
They are now being bred at the Saving Wildcats conservation centre at the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie, and will eventually be released into selected locations in the Cairngorms National Park.
Led by the Royal Zoological Society Scotland, 16 wildcats were paired up by the project earlier this year, with the European partnership project welcoming eight kittens in three litters so far.
The Saving Wildcats team is hopeful for more births over the coming weeks.
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