Swinney condemns illegal release of lynx in Highlands after animals captured
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First Minister John Swinney said he is “enormously grateful” to all those who helped capture two lynx in the Scottish Highlands, as he condemned the illegal release of the animals. His comments came after experts warned the two cats could have died if they had remained in the wild.
On Wednesday evening, the Cairngorms National Park Authority announced the lynx were at large in the area – with Police Scotland advising any members of the public who spotted the animals not to approach them. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) confirmed on Thursday morning that its staff, working with the police, had “humanely” trapped the animals overnight.
RZSS chief executive David Field said: “We condemn the illegal release of these lynx in the strongest possible terms. “It was a highly irresponsible act and it is very unlikely they would have survived in the wild due to a lack of adequate preparation.
“Their abandonment was reckless to the animals, public, the community and nature.”. He said the cats, named by the charity as the “Killiehuntly Two” for now, “appear to be in good health”. Later on Thursday, Mr Swinney said the release of the lynx “should not have happened” and was “an illegal act”.
The First Minister added: “I am enormously grateful to everybody who has contributed to the safe capture of the lynx. “They have been captured by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, but I am aware a number of other parties locally assisted in that process, including officers of Police Scotland and gamekeepers locally.”.
