Two lynx captured after being illegally released in Scottish Highlands
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The wild cats were humanly trapped using cameras near baited traps and are in quarantine. Two lynx that were illegally released into the Scottish Highlands have been captured overnight and are said to be in good health. Police issued a warning to the public on Wednesday evening not to approach the wild cats, after several sightings in the Drumguish area, near Kingussie.
Eurasian lynx, which typically grow to the size of a labrador and have thick grey-brown fur with black spots and a white belly, were once native to Britain but driven to extinction about 1,000 years ago. Working alongside Police Scotland, experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) humanely trapped the cats overnight and they are now being cared for in quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park.
The wildlife conservation charity condemned the illegal release as “highly irresponsible”, as did other animal welfare groups who warned overnight that it was likely the lynx would have died in the wild. David Barclay, the manager of the RZSS saving wildcats team, said: “We set live trail cameras near baited traps and it was a long night for our specialist keepers who were taking turns to monitor any activity.
“It was amazing to see the lynx being captured safely and humanely, which makes the lack of sleep more than worth it. “Biosecurity laws mean the cats need to spend 30 days in suitable quarantine facilities, so we will transfer them from Highland Wildlife Park to Edinburgh zoo, where we will further assess their health and welfare. Long term, they may return to Highland Wildlife Park, which is near where they were trapped, though it is too early to say for certain.”.
