Britain's rarest mammal has been born at Chester Zoo and has been caught on camera for the very first time.
The female Scottish wildcat kitten is part of a breeding programme at the Cheshire-based zoo which is aiming to save the mammal from extinction.
Also known as the Highland tiger, the adorable feline is thought to be one of only 100 wildcats remaining in the UK.
Tim Rowlands, the zoo’s Curator of Mammals, said: "Unlike domestic cats who can have several litters a year, Scottish wildcats will usually only have one, so every birth is really, really significant.
"The kitten was born to parents Einich and Cromarty in August but, given their incredibly elusive nature, had not been caught on camera until now.
"It’s ever so special to see just how active the kitten already is and how she’s already starting to practise the skills that these magnificent, stealth hunters use to pounce on their prey."
The latest addition to Chester Zoo has been hailed as "another lifeline for the species" by conservationists and it is hoped that future generations will be reintroduced to the wild.
