The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (a UK charity dedicated to protecting endangered native livestock) has moved white park cattle to its highest-risk "priority" category in its 2026 watchlist, after new calf numbers dropped to less than two-thirds of their 2022 level. The breed, whose ancestors are thought to have roamed with Celtic communities pushed to Britain's fringes by the Romans some 2,000 years ago, is now under threat partly because farmers face little financial incentive to keep them over more commercially favoured continental breeds. Three other native animals — original population Lincoln red cattle, Boreray sheep, and Soay sheep — were also elevated to priority status, prompting the charity to call on the UK government to strengthen environmental policies that better support rare native breeds.