Rare Wildcats Reintroduced to Scottish Highlands in Historic Conservation Effort

On November 16, 2025, the popular BBC show Countryfile returned to screens with presenter Hamza Yassin embarking on a special mission in the Scottish Highlands. Hamza joined a team leading an ambitious conservation scheme aimed at reintroducing one of Britain's rarest and most elusive predators, the wildcat, back into the wild.

Late at night, Hamza accompanied team member Estelle Morgan to release three wildcats into their natural habitat, a "once in a lifetime opportunity" as Hamza described it. Estelle revealed that Hamza was the first person outside the project staff to have the privilege of releasing a wildcat, an honor that left him amazed.

In the woods, Hamza was captivated by the sleeping wildcats, helping to open their enclosure and place food nearby. He marveled at their majestic and wild nature, eager to see them thrive in their natural environment. To Hamza's delight, the team later confirmed that one of the released wildcats had indeed escaped its enclosure, a promising sign of their successful reintroduction.

Elsewhere on the show, Countryfile also featured the heartwarming story of Dafydd Pett, a young beekeeper who took up the craft to honor his late grandfather's memory. Dafydd shared how he took on his grandfather's beehives at the age of 14 to ensure they were not abandoned after his passing, a touching tribute to his family's legacy.