The Scottish wildcat. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in ferocity.
這是大名鼎鼎的「蘇格蘭野貓」。別看個頭不大，卻異常兇猛。
Nicknamed the Highland Tiger, this cat is even more endangered than its striped Asian cousin.
這種貓還有個綽號叫「高地虎」，稀有程度甚至超過其亞洲表親。
This is not a domestic cat that has gone wild –
蘇格蘭野貓並非野化後的家貓品種，
this is a truly wild animal that moved in here shortly after the glaciers left Britain.
而是貨真價實的野生品種，在英國冰河世紀結束後即在這裡繁衍生息。
Unfortunately, it really is in trouble.
不幸的是，這種野貓目前處境相當危險。
Its range has contracted massively from once having covered the whole of Britain, to just parts of the Scottish Highlands.
近年來，其活動範圍大幅縮減。從全英國收縮至僅蘇格蘭高地附近。
But the real problem that the wildcat faces is because it's quite closely related genetically to the domestic cat,
但野貓真正面臨的問題是，他與家貓的基因圖譜非常相似，
it can actually interbreed and produce fertile hybrids.
因此可以與家貓交配並繁育下一代。
And this is a real problem, because with each passing generation, the wildcat is becoming more and more diluted,
這是個很棘手的問題，因為每繁育一代，野貓的血統就會越來越不純，
and less and less distinctive of that native animal that we've had for so, so long in Scotland
而蘇格蘭土著動物獨有的特徵就會越來越少。
A coordinated conservation effort has set up Scottish Wildcat Action.
一項名為「蘇格蘭野貓行動」的協同性保護計劃已出臺。
It's the first national effort to protect the cats in the wild, and has established a conservation breeding programme.
這是第一個保護野貓的國家級行動方案，與此同時還建立了保護育種計劃。
Douglas Richardson is head of Living Collections at the Highland Wildlife Park.
Douglas Richardson是高地野生動物園Living Collections部門的負責人。
I firmly believe that a healthy captive population of Scottish wildcats in high quality environments
我堅信，為血統純正的蘇格蘭野貓創造高質量生存環境
will be crucial to the survival of the species.
是保護該種族血脈的不二法門。
At the very least, that safety net role that they play.
至少，他們可以承擔安全網的角色。
Someone alluded to captive breeding programmes are like lifeboats on an ocean liner.
一些人將圈養繁育計劃類比為遠洋輪船上的救生艇。
You hope you never have to use one, but it's nice to know that they're there.
你希望永遠用不到它，但它的存在卻能令你感到安心。
Captive-bred wildcats like 11-year-old Hamish are being exchanged between parks
圈養繁殖的野貓，例如11歲的Hamish，在各個園區間交換，
to mate with genetically strong females to secure the future bloodline.
與基因純淨的雌性交配，以產下純血統後代。
Today, Hamish is being loaned to the Aigas Field Centre near Inverness,
今天，Hamish被送至因弗尼斯附近的Aigas Field Centre。
in the hope that he'll breed with one of their female wildcats.
研究人員希望他能在這裡和一隻雌性貓咪交配。
Hello, what's all this? What's this?
你好呀，你喜歡這裡嗎？
He's quite a character, he's not at all dangerous.
他很有個性，一點都不危險。
Though, saying that, I wouldn't want him to land on the top of my head.
但儘管這麼說，我還是希望能和他保持一定的距離。
He's very good with females, and he's excellent with his offspring.
他是個好丈夫和好爸爸，對自己的後代很好。
I've actually seen him carrying and cleaning his kittens on occasion.
我有一次看到他在給貓寶寶舔毛。
If Hamish and his female companions are successful,
如果Hamish能順利與他的雌性伴侶交配，
their descendants may eventually be released back into the Highlands, but only into protected areas.
他們的後代最終可能會被送回至蘇格蘭高地的野生環境中，當然僅限保護區內。
I want to get that captive programme to a level that, if it all goes belly-up as far as the wild population is concerned,
我希望圈養計劃最終能達到的目的是，即使有朝一日所有野生的蘇格蘭野貓全部滅絕，
we still have that cushion.
我們至少還能有火種。
It's not just about captive breeding in some of these facilities - it's about education and raising awareness -
而這不僅僅需要在這些科研場所建立繁育基地，更事關教育和人們意識的提升。
making people aware that we have this fantastic animal living in the wild area in Scotland and does need our help.
我們要讓人們意識到，蘇格蘭還生活著這樣美麗的生靈，需要我們去保護。