Capercaillie Emergency Plan

The Scottish capercaillie population is in drastic decline and we are keen to aid in its recovery. We are delighted to see the Capercaillie Emergency Plan published recently by Cairngorms National Park Authority and NatureScot.

The plan will improve capercaillie conservation, with key objectives to be achieved before 2030. RZSS WildGenes has been working closely with Cairngorms National Park Authority on developing genetic techniques to improve capercaillie monitoring and identify genetic diversity across the range.

We have successfully developed a genetic technique to count capercaillie at lek sites and hope to extend this approach, continuing the mission to reverse the decline of this iconic species.

RZSS vets have also piloted an approach to assess parasites in the capercaillie population to better understand morbidity in this species and its close relatives sharing the Cairngorms National Park.