Saving Wildcats is looking for an in-situ volunteer!

Saving Wildcats is a partnership project lead by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), dedicated to Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery, aiming to prevent the extinction of wildcats in Scotland by breeding and releasing them into the wild.

Based at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland‘s Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, this field and office based role will primarily involve assisting the in-situ conservation (field) team with:

• GPS radio-tracking of released collared wildcats
• Camera trap checks
• Handling and analysing camera trap survey data (images and excel spreadsheets).

There may also be opportunities to participate in additional field-based activities and assist with community events.

Volunteering will give you the opportunity to contribute directly towards conservation efforts for the critically endangered wildcat in Scotland, as part of the RZSS Saving Wildcats project team. You will learn about the conservation issues affecting wildcats and the actions being taken to prevent their extinction, including the first dedicated Conservation Breeding for Release Centre (CBRC) for wildcats in the UK, and the field programme to assess release sites, mitigate the threats, and monitor the releases. You will gain direct practical experience of handling and analysing large datasets, as well as specific knowledge and experience of camera trapping methodology.

You will be provided with accommodation (a private room in a shared hostel located in a town near Highland Wildlife Park), expenses to £50 per week, and a discount to be used on-site at Highland Wildlife Park for lunch. Transport to and from the hostel to Highland Wildlife Park can be provided on working days, but you will be responsible for your own transportation outside of working hours so having your own vehicle may be advantageous.

The position will ideally be available for six months (depending on the successful candidate’s availability, with a minimum requirement of three months). We would like the candidate to start on Monday 13 April.

RZSS is committed to being fair, open and inclusive. We believe that RZSS benefits from the involvement of volunteers from diverse cultures, perspectives and experiences. We will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, disability, age, religious beliefs, and so on. In some cases, extra support may be given to volunteers (e.g. those with disabilities). We expect our volunteers to adhere to the Guidelines on Equality and Diversity.

Find out more about how to apply for this role.