Overview

• Four Eurasian lynx, believed to have been illegally released in the Cairngorms, were recaptured, with one dying from apparent starvation shortly after being taken into care.
• Experts are divided on whether the release was an act by rogue rewilding activists or the abandonment of exotic pets, with investigations ongoing by Police Scotland.
• Critics, including former rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing, have condemned the release as reckless, cruel, and harmful to both the animals and the rewilding movement's credibility.
• Environmentalist Ben Goldsmith voiced frustration over the lack of official rewilding initiatives but denied involvement in the release, calling for a structured reintroduction of lynx to Scotland.
• The Scottish government reiterated that any lynx reintroduction would require extensive consultation and evidence, while conservationists stressed the importance of adhering to international best practices.