Two lynx 'illegally released' captured 'humanely' after

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has reported a successful operation to capture two lynx illegally released in the Scottish Highlands, stressing that the animals could have perished if they had remained at large. Working in collaboration with Police Scotland, RZSS staff managed to "humanely" trap the two felines, subsequently dubbed the Killiehuntly Two, amidst concerns for their welfare.

It was on Wednesday evening when the Cairngorms National Park Authority first alerted the community to the presence of the lynx. At this point, Police Scotland issued warnings advising people against approaching them should they encounter the animals.

Now safely contained, the pair are being temporarily housed in quarantine at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms before moving to Edinburgh Zoo for health assessments.

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David Field, chief executive of RZSS, 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."

He also highlighted the potential danger involved, stating, "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 expressed his gratitude towards all the contributors of information regarding the felines, acknowledging the expertise from RZSS and collaboration with local staff played a crucial role in swiftly resolving the situation favourably.

David Barclay, manager of the RZSS Saving Wildcats team, indicated that eventually, the lynx might find a home at Highland Wildlife Park. Describing the capture process, he 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."

He also mentioned the potential for the animals’ return to the vicinity of their capture: "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."

Highland Wildlife Park already hosts two northern lynx, Switch and Neon, and as this story unfolds, RZSS urges anyone with information on how the lynx arrived in the area to get in touch with Police Scotland.