The pair of Lynx who were illegally released in the Highlands have been recovered
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said they would likely have died in the wild.
Last updated 9th Jan 2025
The two Lynx that were illegally released into the Highlands in the Kingussie area have been safely captured by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
The charity worked together with Police Scotland to ‘humanely’ trap the cats.
The mission was a success, and the pair are currently in quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park and will soon be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo.
The illegal release has been declared “highly irresponsible” by the RZSS, which believes the cats wouldn’t have been able to survive in the wild.
David Barclay, 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.”
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, the public, the community and nature.
“For now, we have named them ‘The KillieHuntly Two’ and thankfully they appear to be in good health.
“We are extremely grateful to all the residents, estates, farmers and conservation partners locally that provided information to us and the police. The team were ably assisted by Wildland staff on the ground and close working between all parties allowed for a swift and positive resolution in this case.”
There are already two grown Northern Lynx named Switch and Neon – a subspecies of the Eurasian Lynx – home at Highland Wildlife Park.
Police Scotland is urging anyone with information regarding their release to the area to contact them.
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