Two more lynx on the loose in Scottish Highlands day after 'illegally released' pair captured

Campaigners in support of reintroducing lynx to the wild have condemned the release of the lynxes, describing it as 'irresponsible' as the cats would be unlikely to survive in the wild, ITV News' Nicola McAlley reports.

Police are investigating a sighting of another two lynx prowling the Scottish Highlands one day after a separate pair suspected of being illegally released were captured in the same area.

Members of the public have been warned not to approach the wild cats, and police said they are working with specially trained personnel to capture them.

Police received reports the animals had been seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie at about 7.10am on Friday.

Investigators believe the sighting is connected to the release of two lynx seen in the same area on Wednesday, which were safely captured overnight into Thursday.“Further traps are being baited in the area and the hope is that these animals will be safely and humanely captured before being taken to Edinburgh Zoo to join the two captured yesterday in quarantine", Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) chief executive David Field said.

One of the two Lynx, which were successfully captured in the Cairngorms National Park on Thursday. Credit: PA

“Police Scotland and Cairngorm National Park Authority rangers are also in attendance. The public are being asked to steer clear of the area as a build-up of people could disturb the animals and hamper efforts on the ground.“RZSS condemns the illegal release of wild animals in the strongest possible terms and urges anyone with information on the release of these lynx to contact Police Scotland.”Police are trying to establish the full circumstances of the sighting and are appealing to anyone who saw anything in the area, or who has any information, to call 101, quoting incident number 0387 of Friday January 10.The “illegal release” of the animals into the wild has been condemned by wildlife groups, who said it is very unlikely the animals can survive.

One of the lynx successfully captured. Credit: RZSS

Speaking after the capture of the two lynx on Thursday, Mr Field said: “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, public, the community and nature.”

The Eurasian, or northern lynx, were native to Britain before becoming extinct in the country around 1,300 years ago due to hunting and habitat loss, according to Rewilding Britain.

Lynx to Scotland, a project working to return the species to the Highlands, condemned this week's release of the cats, describing it as "irresponsible" and "counter-productive".

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Peter Cairns, executive director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, one of the three charities involved in the project, said it was “excellent news” the first two lynx had been captured quickly and are safe.The lynx captured on Thursday were taken by RZSS to quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms, with the animals due to be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, where their health and welfare will be assessed.David Barclay, manager of the RZSS Saving Wildcats team, said that long term the creatures may be rehomed in Highland Wildlife Park, which is already home to two northern lynx named Switch and Neon.

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