Lynx in Scotland: Here is everything we know about the wild cats being illegally released in the Highlands

Two were initially spotted earlier in the week and successfully recaptured. Then in a surprise development, another two were seen about 36 hours later, before they too were recovered.

Sadly, one of the lynx did not survive being released into the wild.

As one might expect, there have been multiple theories flying around rural Scotland and beyond. Social media has gone nuts. But what do we really know about these wild cats in Scotland so far?

Where were they found?

Both pairs were found the in the Kingussie area of the Highlands, which sits in the Cairngorms National Park and is about 50 miles south of Inverness.

The first two were spotted on Wednesday afternoon in the Drumguish area near the town. They were also seen on Killiehuntly estate, which is run by Wildland Ltd, a rewilding organisation owned by Danish billionaire Anders Povlsen.

The duo have subsequently been called “The Killiehuntly Two”.

The second pair were also spotted in the Killiehuntly vicinity, specifically the Dell of Killiehuntly on Friday morning. They have since been recaptured and don’t have a name as of yet.

Tim Kirkwood, the chief executive of Wildland Ltd, said the organisation was categorically against illegal releases of animals and had nothing to do with the four recaptured lynx.

How were they caught?

The bobtail cats were caught using live trail cameras near baited humane traps, with specialist keepers taking it in turns to monitor activity.

The recovery operation of the first pair of cats involved a joint effort between Police Scotland, conservation groups and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

The first duo, after being checked over at Highland Wildlife Park, have since been transported to Edinburgh Zoo where they will be kept until further decisions on their future are made.

The second pair, caught at about 6.30pm on Friday, are expected to join the other two at the zoo in quarantine.

Due to biosecurity laws, the cats need to spend 30 days in suitable quarantine facilities.

Who released them? Was it one person or a group?

There has been no confirmation as to who released the big cats. A police investigation is ongoing and officers have asked anyone with information about the illegal release to come forward.

Some conservationists have told The Scotsman they believe a “frustrated activist” wanting lynx to be returned to Scotland is responsible for the illegal releases.

Other members of the rural community said they believe the illegal releases link to “fundamentalist rewilding Scotland.”

Campaigners vouching for the reintroduction of the big cats have previously commented on the “slow bureaucratic process” of the Scottish Government and NatureScot, and the ongoing, lengthy debate about whether or not lynx should be back in Scotland.

Rewilding groups, including SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, however, have condoned the recent illegal releases.

Executive director Peter Cairns said: “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 Mammal Society, which also supports the reintroduction of the big cats, suggested “rogue rewilders” could be behind the releases.

The organisation said it would love to see a stable and healthy population of wild lynx thriving in the UK, and that the reintroduction of the species could "redress ecosystem imbalance and restore biodiversity to our depleted landscapes".

The society said it understood the "frustration" which could lead to illegal releases, but that there were "no shortcuts" to achieving its goal.

"Illegal releases are irresponsible and not the answer," it said.

Where were the lynx kept before?

There has been no confirmation as to where the lynx came from.

Early theories from conservationists talking to The Scotsman suggest the lynx came from a private facility in the UK. There is a chance they could have come over from the continent, or possibly the Republic of Ireland, where licensing rules on owning big cats are different to the UK.

Were they breed in captivity or brought in?

RZSS chief executive David Field said there is a small population of lynx held in private hands in the UK.

He said the two lynx caught on Wednesday are very young and habituated – they look to humans for security and food and they are used to heating. The charity said the second pair are a bit older.

“Lynx are perfectly able to live outside in the wild in Scotland, but these individuals are used to heated, warm environments and food being prepared, and humans,” he said.

“They are totally unsuitable for being out in the wild. They pose a huge risk to themselves and to the community.”

Mr Field said there were around 20 lynx in private facilities in the UK, which are different from licensed zoos, and it is possible the previous owners found themselves unable to care for them and therefore abandoned them.

Rory Kennedy, from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), said given how tame the cats were and how easy it was to catch them, it would suggest they were bred in captivity.

“It also suggests that they are not that long released,” he said.

Why are the second two lynx in a pair as well?

Conservationists say early indications suggest the reason the lynx were in pairs, when the cat is normally a solitary animal in the mild, is because they are domesticated and from the same facility, and possibly the same litter. They believe all four cats are linked.

Are they dangerous?

Conservationists have said the big cats are generally not dangerous to people. They may, however, attack if they feel threatened or are cornered.

Police Scotland has asked members of the public not to approach the animals if they see them and to avoid the area where the four lynx were spotted.

What's the law?

In the UK, you need a license to own a big cat under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. This includes lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, and lynx.

An application must be made to the relevant local authority.

In 2021, Born Free’s, a UK-based charity, found more than 200 wild cats were kept privately in Great Britain.

What's the environmental impact?

Research has shown lynx can help control the population of deer. Scotland has seen an explosion in deer numbers in recent years and campaigners vouching for the big cats’ reintroduction say the species could help cull numbers.

Reducing deer populations can then reduce browsing pressure from deer and in turn help forests regenerate naturally.

Rewilding Britain said the reintroduction of the bobtail cat could also improve rural economies by attracting ecotourism.

The farmers’ union NFU Scotland has voiced concerns about the impact the big cats could have on livestock.

Has this happened in Scotland before?

Police Scotland were unable to confirm whether there have been other incidents in recent years when they’ve been involved in big cat search operations.

Rick Minter, host of the podcast Big Cat Conversations, however, said that large cats, including lynx, have been reported by people across Britain, and Scotland, for several decades.

In each episode, Mr Minter discusses big cat sightings with those who claim to have seen them, finding out what they saw or sensed, how they felt, and how these cases might fit a bigger picture.

“The data is consistent,” he told The Scotsman. “By year or by region the descriptions resemble black leopards (80% or so) tan coloured pumas (around 15%) and lynx-like cats for 5%. “

What has been the reaction?

Farmers and crofters have condemned the illegal release, and voiced concern over the welfare of the animals and their own livestock.

John Macpherson, secretary of Cairngorms Crofters and Farmers Community, said: “Our organisation wholly condemns this illegal release of lynx in the CNP and hope that Police Scotland will quickly apprehend the perpetrators and that they will face the full force of the law.”

Deirdre Falconer, of the community group and a local crofter where the lynx were released, said: “Where the lynx were released was about a quarter of a mile as the crow flies from my sheep.

“Between the croft and where they were released is all forestry, with very few deer because they’ve all been shot, I was concerned that if these animals were hungry, an easy target would be my sheep.

“Lynx are shy, but at night time, if they’re hungry, they will probably take livestock.”

Rewilding groups behind reintroducing lynx illegally have also been rattled by the illegal releases.

Peter Cairns, of rewilding charity Scotland: The Big Picture, said: “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.”