Two illegally released lynx ‘humanely’ captured in Scottish Highlands
Share:
Two lynx which were illegally released in the Scottish Highlands have been successfully captured – with experts warning the creatures could have died if they had remained in the wild. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) announced its staff, working with Police Scotland, had “humanely” trapped the animals overnight, with the conservation charity branding their release “highly irresponsible”.
On Wednesday evening, the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) announced that the lynx were at large within its grounds – with Police Scotland advising any members of the public who spotted them not to approach the creatures. Now they have been captured, the animals – which the RZSS has named the Killiehuntly Two – are being cared for in quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, where their health and welfare will be assessed.
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. “For now, we have named them the Killiehuntly Two and thankfully they appear to be in good health.”. Mr Field thanked everyone who had provided information on the animals, saying that RZSS experts working with staff on the ground had helped achieve a “swift and positive resolution in this case”.
