Illegally-released Lynx cat dies after capture in Highlands

One of the lynx released illegally successful the Scottish Highlands has died aft being captured, those caring for the animals person said.

Two of the large cats were caught connected Thursday successful the Dell of Killiehuntly country adjacent Kingussie, portion a second brace were seized successful the aforesaid portion connected Friday, 1 of which died overnight.

Police are investigating however they came to beryllium successful the country amid speculation "rogue rewilding" could beryllium to blasted for their release.

The lynx were baited into humane traps earlier being taken to the Highland Wildlife Park.

Dr Helen Senn, caput of conservation astatine the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said: "After extended efforts to seizure these animals safely and humanely, we were precise bittersweet to observe that 1 of them has died overnight.

"We bash not yet cognize the circumstances down its decease but volition beryllium carrying retired a postmortem to effort to found what happened.

"Whatever the case, this unfortunate improvement conscionable serves to further show the folly of abandoning these astonishing animals successful the wild, with nary mentation oregon existent interest for their welfare.

"We tin lone ideate the accent that each 4 of the recovered lynx indispensable person experienced aft being thrust into an wholly caller and highly harsh situation to fend for themselves."

Read much from Sky News:
UK records coldest January nighttime successful 15 years
Former footballer diagnosed with dementia

The surviving lynx from the brace volition present beryllium taken to Edinburgh Zoo to articulation the others for a play of quarantine.

The RZSS has said the captured lynx are tame and are utilized to humans.

Lynx, which tin beryllium astir the size of a Labrador, are usually shy and solitary creatures and attacks connected humans are virtually unheard of.

Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands Edward Mountain said the 2nd seizure of lynx "would suggest a concerted attack to illegally reintroduce lynx".

"These animals cannot magically appear, and the authorities should beryllium tackling this wildlife transgression with an implicit absorption of uncovering retired who is responsible," helium said.

Police Scotland said enquiries are continuing, and officers and wildlife experts volition proceed to analyse the country wherever the animals were found.

In 2021 a radical of charities launched a consultation connected assessing people's views astir the imaginable of reintroducing Eurasian lynx to Scotland.

Earlier this week Peter Cairns, manager of 1 of the charities involved, condemned the amerciable release.

He added: "The Lynx to Scotland task is moving to unafraid the instrumentality of lynx to the Scottish Highlands, but irresponsible and amerciable releases specified arsenic this are simply counter-productive."