Illegally-released lynx captured in Scottish Highlands dies
Illegally-released lynx captured in Scottish Highlands dies
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A post-mortem will be launched after the death of the cat. One of the illegally-released lynx captured in the Highlands has died, those caring for the animals have said. The big cat was one of the second pair to be captured near the Dell of Killiehuntly on Friday.
A spokesman for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said: “We can confirm one of them has died overnight. “We will go through a post-mortem but we won’t have the results for a few days.”. The cause of death is currently unknown. The spokesman said the death demonstrates the dangers of an unplanned release of lynx in the wild.
Police are searching for answers after the second pair of lynx were captured near the Dell of Killiehuntly on Friday, a day after the first incident nearby. The RZSS has said the captured lynx are tame and are used to humans. Police Scotland said inquiries into how the lynx ended up in the area are continuing, and officers and wildlife experts will continue to examine the area where the animals were found.
In 2021 a group of charities launched a consultation on assessing people’s views about the potential of reintroducing Eurasian lynx to Scotland. Earlier this week Peter Cairns, director of one of the charities involved, condemned the illegal release.
