Although they\u2019ve been extinct in wild in the UK for more than a thousand years, this is the second time in just three days that Lynx have been spotted in Scotland. On Wednesday, January 8, police were first alerted to two Lynx who were sighted in a similar area.<\/p>\n
Working through the night, officials from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland collaborated with police to track down and humanely capture the pair. Tempting the cats with baited traps, members of the RZSS tracked their movements with live trail cameras.<\/p>\n
Following their capture, the lynx have been transported to Edinburgh Zoo, where experts are assessing their health and well-being. Officials are hopeful that they\u2019ll be joined by the newly spotted pair in the coming days.<\/p>\n
Police believe the two illegal releases are connected.<\/p>\n
What are lynx?<\/h2>\n
A medium-sized wild cat, there are four species of lynx. The largest species, Eurasian lynx were previously native to the UK but became extinct 1,000 to 1,300 years ago. Adults are roughly the size of a labrador dog.<\/p>\n
It’s currently unclear which species of lynx was spotted in the UK.<\/p>\n
Wild lynx prey on small mammals like rabbits and hares, birds, and largest species like deer. Although they hunt for food, lynx aren\u2019t typically dangerous and tend to avoid humans.<\/p>\n
Why were they released?<\/h2>\n
In recent years, organizations like the Mammal Society have suggested that lynx should be re-introduced to the UK to redress issues with British ecosystems and restore biodiversity in areas like the Scottish highlands.<\/p>\n
In response to the sightings, the Mammal Society has suggested that independent rewilders could be behind the illegal release.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand the frustration that incentivizes those responsible for illegal releases, who are concerned about the biodiversity crisis and feel there is a lack of support from government,\u201d the group said in a statement posted to social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cIllegal releases, however, are irresponsible and not the answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIllegal releases can set back the timeline and undermine hard ecological and social science work that is already underway to bring about a successful reintroduction.”<\/p>\n
Officials remain hard at work, tracking down the two remaining lynx.<\/p>\n