The wild cats were spotted on Wednesday afternoon around two miles from a wildlife park in the Drumguish area, near to Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said its staff, working with Police Scotland, had "humanely" trapped the animals overnight, with the conservation charity branding their release "highly irresponsible"

The wild cats were spotted on Wednesday afternoon around two miles from a wildlife park in the Drumguish area, near to Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands.

Conservation experts set traps to humanely capture the two animals, spotted near Kingussie on Wednesday.

"Working with Police Scotland, experts from our wildlife conservation charity humanely trapped the cats overnight and took them to the park's quarantine facilities."

Working alongside Police Scotland, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland worked through the night to humanely capture the cats, using live trail cameras near baited traps

The animals - which have been named the Killiehuntly Two - are now being cared for in quarantine facilities