The largest survey of Scottish wildcats is now under way with more than 300 trail cameras going live.
The survey focuses on five of the wildcat priority areas of Scotland, including the Angus glens, Strathpeffer, Strathbogie, Strathavon and north Strathspey.
Work will be continuing in Morvern later in the year.
As part of Scottish Wildcat Action, the motion-sensitive cameras will monitor cats living in parts of the Highlands over a 60-day period.
Survey methods are informed by published scientific studies and a practical hands-on approach.
More than 130 volunteers will check the cameras.
Data gathered will help inform wildcat protection measures, including an extensive neutering campaign to stop feral and pet cats from interbreeding with the endangered wildcats and passing disease on to them.
Dr Aileen McLeod, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, said: “This project will carry out important work to protect the future of the wildcat in Scotland.
“I look forward to seeing the images from these camera trails and finding out more about these fascinating animals.
“I would also like to thank all the volunteers involved in helping this project to take place and to cover so much wildcat territory.”
Roo Campbell, the priority areas manager, said: “This is the first time a wildcat survey of this scale has been carried out and will be very important for assessing the current threats to wildcats.”
The chief threat to the wildcat is continued interbreeding with domestic cats.
Many wildcats in Scotland already contain some domestic cat ancestry and wildcats will continue to become less distinctive if this is left unchecked.
Scottish Wildcat Action is committed to reducing the risk of interbreeding between wildcats and domestic cats or obvious hybrids.
Once the situation in the priority areas is better known, the project team can determine appropriate follow-up actions.
This includes working with communities and estates to protect our remaining wildcats and gearing up for a coordinated Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Release programme next summer.
Unowned domestic cats and obvious hybrids will be trapped, neutered and vaccinated before being returned to the wild under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage.