One in four lynx caught in the Scottish Highlands dies

LONDON (AP) — One of four lynx believed to have been illegally released into the Scottish Highlands has died hours after being caught, wildlife officials said Saturday.

Medium-sized feral cats, extinct in Scotland for hundreds of years, were spotted in the snowy Cairngorms National Park this week, sparking concerns that a private breeder has illegally released the predators into the wild. The dead lynx was one of a pair caught on Friday.

“This unfortunate development only serves to further demonstrate the senselessness of leaving these amazing animals in the wild without preparation and concern for their welfare,” said Helen Senn, head of conservation at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. “We can only imagine the stress that all four recovered lynxes must have been under after being thrust into a completely new and extremely harsh environment to fend for themselves.”

The sighting and capture of the lynx comes as some environmental campaigners seek to reintroduce the lynx as a way to control deer population growth and underline Scotland’s commitment to wildlife diversity.

Police are still investigating the incident and have not released any possible suspects. Wildlife experts speculate that the cats were released either by someone who took matters into their own hands because they were frustrated by the slow process of getting government approval, or by an opponent who wanted to create problems that would block reintroduction efforts.

The region’s Conservative lawmaker Edward Mountain said the second lynx catch showed a “concerted approach to the illegal reintroduction of lynx”.

“These animals cannot magically appear and the authorities must address this wildlife crime with a focus on finding those responsible,” he said.