WILDCAT LEGEND- STEVE PIPER HAS SADLY DIED 💔

Hi All

This is a post that we never thought we would have to write.

It is with broken hearts that we have to inform you, that Steve Piper, who founded the Wildcat Haven concept and project, has sadly died. He was just 49 years old. This is a picture of him with his beloved dog, Baron. Many of you may not immediately recognise Steve’s name, but he is written into the very DNA of all of our work. He is also the main reason why the desperate plight of the Scottish wildcat was highlighted to the world.

Steve was a filmmaker and made the first ever film documentary about Scottish wildcats. He was so alarmed by the plight and lack of any action to save them, that he set up the Scottish Wildcat Association: the first organisation dedicated to saving the wildcat. It is within this organisation that he developed the concept of creating safe areas for wildcats- Wildcat Havens. 12 years ago, we worked with Steve to turn the concept into an organisation solely devoted to protecting the Scottish wildcat in the wild, where they belong. That is how Wildcat Haven started.

Steve’s first wildcat film showed the world how special the wildcat was. He showcased their beauty, wild spirit and their desperate plight. No matter how any of us all got to know about the magnificent wildcat, it could probably be traced back to Steve Piper in some way. That is how impactful he was.

Steve was a pioneer and he was passionate about animal welfare. He advocated and indeed funded and carried out large scale, Trap Neuter Return projects. That led to the creation of the first Wildcat Haven on the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas.

He strongly believed that for the wildcat to be saved, people had to love it and he has done arguably more than anyone in ensuring that. He set up our social media channels and made further short films and massively increased the wildcat’s profile.

Steve was a fierce campaigner and protector of the wildcat and he, alongside our current Director, Dr Paul O’Donoghue, set up this campaign to Save the Clashindarroch. This petition Steve started, now has well over a million followers, making it one of the biggest wildlife petitions of all time. It will continue to grow. Please continue to share it.

https://www.change.org/.../scottish-government-save-the...

He also helped to draft the text for our legal crowdfunder which has enabled us to fight so hard and effectively for the Clashindarroch wildcats and is the reason why wildcats are still found there. You can see that here:

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildcats/

Steve had many other achievements in his life and helped many conservation and animal welfare causes.

As well as being a true Wildcat Legend, he was simply a remarkable human being. A very special soul, with whom it was a true privilege to spend time with. He was utterly selfless; his generosity of spirit knew no bounds. His intelligence, insight, creativity and humour were a delight, that brought inspiration and happiness to so many people. One thing is for sure, if you ever met Steve Piper, you would never forget it.

In many ways he was like the Scottish wildcat he championed. He was ethereal, charismatic, nocturnal in his habits, mysterious and fierce when he needed to be. Like the wildcat he was simply Magical.

His tragically premature death has left us filled with sadness. Steve is irreplaceable. However, whilst his body has died, his spirit and legacy lives on in our project. His spirit is in the forests we protect and alongside the beautiful wildcats that we glimpse. He is everywhere we look and always will be.

As you know, we are never short of motivation, but Steve’s untimely death has strengthened our resolve even more, to find and save every single wildcat. We are more determined than ever and as we process his passing, our grief will fuel our fight and we know that you are also right behind us in this.

We ask you all to give a thought or prayer, or a moment of reflection on the life of Steve Piper. The best friend any human or wildcat could ever have.

Keep in touch and please continue to stand with us. There is a huge year ahead.

Many thanks as always

Emily and a very sad but resolute Wildcat Haven Team.