Wildlife experts have shared news on the lynx found in the Highlands, now safe at Edinburgh Zoo after being illegally released.
Kingussie: So, here’s the scoop. Some animal rescuers just gave an update on those lynx that were let loose in the Highlands. Right now, they’re chilling in quarantine at Edinburgh Zoo.
Four of these big cats, which are actually extinct in the wild here, were spotted by folks near Kingussie back in January. After a big search, they were caught in pairs a couple of days later.
Sadly, one of the lynx didn’t make it after being captured, and we still don’t know why. The police are looking into how these cats ended up in the Highlands in the first place.
On a brighter note, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said the three remaining lynx are doing just fine. They’re in quarantine for 30 days, and the society has raised over £13,000 from the public to help care for them.
They’re asking for more donations, saying just £15 a day can cover a meal for one lynx, while £150 would help with vet care. A spokesperson mentioned they’re really grateful for the support so far.
In the meantime, experts are a bit worried. They think this illegal release could spark a trend of “rogue rewilding” in Scotland. Conservationist Peter Cairns called it an irresponsible move and warned that it might happen again.
Farmers in the area are pretty upset about this too. They want a serious crackdown on these rogue rewilders and are calling for a manhunt to find out who did this. The National Farmers Union Scotland has been warning about illegal releases for a while now.
In a letter to the Scottish ministers, NFU Scotland’s president expressed gratitude for the quick action in recapturing the lynx but stressed the need to find those responsible. They want to make sure that illegal releases are taken seriously and punished.
So, if you’re interested in helping out, you can donate to the RZSS crowdfunder. And don’t forget to sign up for the daily newsletter to stay updated on all the latest news!
