Two more lynx on the loose after illegal release amid 'do not approach' warning

Key Points

A pair of lynx have been spotted roaming the Highlands near Kingussie
Two were captured on Thursday after an overnight operation
Police believe the two ‘illegal’ releases are connected
‘Humane’ traps are being set in a bid to capture the animals
Members of the public are being urged not to approach them

Two more illegally released lynx have been spotted roaming the Highlands after a pair were captured earlier this week with members of the public urged not to approach.

Police said they received a report of two big cats being seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie around 7.10am on Friday.

People have been warned not to approach the animals and officers are working with specially trained personnel to capture them.

Police say enquires suggest the latest sighting is connected with a release of two lynx seen in the Drumguish area on Wednesday.

The lynx in the Highlands on the loose earlier this week. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

They were safely captured on Thursday and taken to the Highland Wildlife Park to be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo where they are in quarantine.

A Police Scotland statement read: “Around 7.10am on Friday, January 10 we received a report of another two lynx being seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie.

“Members of the public are asked not to approach the animals and officers are working with specially trained personnel to capture them.

Officers received reports of two lynx cat sightings in the Drumguish area near Kingussie at around 4.20pm on Wednesday. Supplied

“Enquiries suggest the sighting is connected with a release of two lynx seen in the same area on Wednesday, January 8. They were safely captured on Thursday, January 9.

“Enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of both sightings.

“If anyone saw anything in the area or has any information then please call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0387 of Friday, January 10, 2025.”

First Minister John Swinney said on Friday the Scottish Government does not support a reintroduction of the lynx into Scotland.

He told STV News: “It is an illegal act to release them into the wild.

“I would say to those who are releasing them you should stop doing that because it is an illegal act and it can’t be tolerated.”

Swinney acknowledged “more work would need to be done” after the initial two lynx released were captured.

Royal Zoological Society of Scotland chief executive David Field said humane traps are being set in the area to catch the Eurasian lynx.

“Two more lynx have been sighted in the same Cairngorms location where we successfully captured a pair yesterday,” he said.

“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.

“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.”

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.

The Highland Wildlife Park said on X: “The presence of a further two lynx in the Cairngorms has been revealed overnight.

“We are again working closely with Police Scotland and partners to safely retrieve the animals.

“Whilst lynx present a low risk to humans, we would ask anyone who does spot them not to approach nor to attend the area.”

What is a lynx and do they attack humans?

Lynx could return to Scotland – but not through illegal releases, say campaigners Scotlandbigpicture.com

A lynx is a type of wildcat that lives and hunts in forests all over North America, Europe, and Asia.

There are no wild lynx living in Scotland, although there has been debate about whether they should be reintroduced.

Lynx are bigger than house cats, but they’re not massive like lions or tigers and are more similar in size to labrador dogs.

The animals survive on a range of small animals like rodents and hares.

Scotland

Lynx campaigners blast ‘irresponsible’ release of wildcats in Cairngorms

Lynx to Scotland said the release of the animals was counter-productive to efforts to restore numbers in the Highlands.

There are four different species of lynx: Eurasian and Iberian lynxes live in Europe and Asia, and bobcats and Canadian lynx live in North America.

The Iberian lynx is generally the largest species, followed closely by the Canada lynx

Two of their most distinctive features are the dark, pointed tufts of hair on their ears and their short, stubby tails, which are generally 10-20 centimetres.

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, lynx typically ignore humans but could attack in self-defence if they feel threatened.