Illegally Released Lynx Captured in Scottish Highlands as Search Continues

Two lynx have been captured and two more remain at large following an illegal release that has drawn condemnation from conservationists and authorities.

Two young lynx, nicknamed the 'Killiehuntly Two,' were captured in the Cairngorms after being illegally released into the wild, with two additional lynx still being tracked by authorities.
The captured lynx, habituated to humans and unprepared for survival in the wild, are now in quarantine at Highland Wildlife Park before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo for further assessment.
Experts and conservationists condemned the illegal release as reckless, stating the animals would likely have died in the wild due to inadequate preparation and their reliance on humans for food and shelter.
Police Scotland is investigating the origins of the lynx, believed to have been released by individuals frustrated with delays in official rewilding efforts, which require government approval.
Rewilding advocates emphasized that illegal actions undermine ongoing efforts to reintroduce lynx to Scotland responsibly, with proper ecological and community considerations.