The Scottish red squirrel is a native species, but its population has been declining for a long time and gradually becoming more fragmented. Its survival is affected by a variety of environmental pressures, including habitat loss, human activities and environmental pollution. Another important threat comes from invasive grey squirrels, which have an advantage in competition for food and habitat resources and may also carry squirrelpox virus, which can be highly harmful to red squirrels. Therefore, current red squirrel conservation efforts in Scotland mainly focus on protecting existing red squirrel populations, controlling grey squirrels and maintaining suitable forest habitats.

This project is a serious game incorporating a risk-reward mechanism, exploring how it can influence players’ awareness of Scottish red squirrel conservation. Players take on the role of a red squirrel, making decisions while searching for food and water and managing risks such as pollution and competition from grey squirrels. Through these choices and their consequences, the game encourages players to understand the survival challenges faced by red squirrels and consider the importance of their conservation.