Captured lynx had been tamed and are used to humans, says expert
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Two lynx which were illegally released into the Cairngorms had been tamed and may be related to another pair on the loose, according to the chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Cairngorms National Park Authority announced on Wednesday evening that two lynx were at large, and members of the public who spotted the animals were warned not to approach them.
The animals, which are around a year old, were trapped overnight into Thursday, and are being cared for by zoologists from the RZSS who are working on the reintroduction of Scottish wildcats. They have been nicknamed the “Killiehuntly Two” after the region where they were found – but it emerged on Friday that another pair of lynx, which appear to be older, are also on the loose.
Police said they received reports the animals had been seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie at about 7.10am on Friday. The lynx captured on Thursday were taken by RZSS to quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore, with the animals due to be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, where their health and welfare will be assessed.
RZSS chief executive David Field said: “It’s mad, sad and bad. We don’t know where the lynx have come from. “There is a small population of lynx held in private hands in the UK. The two lynx we caught are very young and habituated – they are looking to humans for security and food, they are used to heating.
