Lynx charities say releasing wild cats into Cairngorms 'counter-productive' to campaign efforts

A charity partnership which is working to restore lynx to the Highlands has welcomed the humane capture of two of the animals illegally released in the Cairngorms National Park.

However, Lynx to Scotland, a three-charity partnership, blasted the “irresponsible and illegal” release of the wild cats.

Peter Cairns, executive director of Scotland: The Big Picture, one of the charities involved, said: “It’s excellent news that experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland were able to humanely trap the lynx so rapidly and that the lynx are safe.

“The Lynx to Scotland Project is working to secure the return of Lynx to the Scottish Highlands, but irresponsible and illegal releases such as this are simply counter-productive.”

The native Eurasian lynx was made extinct in Scotland through hunting and habitat loss more than 500 years ago.

Lynx are described as a “keystone species” and said to play a vital role in maintaining healthy living systems, with biodiversity negatively affected by their absence.

The wild cats have been returned to European countries such as Germany, France and Switzerland. They are said to be shy and elusive woodland hunters that pose no danger to people.

Research suggests the Highlands has the habitat to sustainably support around 400 lynx.

“The Lynx to Scotland project is working towards a carefully planned reintroduction of lynx that respects the views of farmers and other stakeholders – so that Scotland would once again benefit from having lynx in the natural environment,” said Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life.

“Scotland is one of a handful of European countries still lacking a large terrestrial mammal predator. If we are serious about tackling the nature and climate emergencies, we need lynx back.”

One benefit of reintroduction, the partnership points out, is that Scotland has more woodland deer than any other European country.

By preying on deer, they say, lynx could reduce browsing pressure on regenerating woodlands, helping to expand and enrich the country’s forests.