Lynx left to starve now living happy, enriched lives, says park

Three lynxes found starving to death after being abandoned in the Highlands a year ago are now thriving in a wildlife park, their keepers say.

The female cats were spotted near Kingussie before being captured. A fourth lynx, a male, was also trapped but later died.

Their illegal release remains a mystery and Police Scotland say their investigations into finding the perpetrators are ongoing.

The females were given a home at Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig and staff said the cats lived “happy, enriched” lives.

The drama unfolded over several days deep in the snow-covered Cairngorms National Park last January.

Two lynxes were spotted in a large landscape of wetlands, forests and farms in the Drumguish area near Kingussie on Wednesday, January 8.

A team from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park managed to capture them a few hours later.

They were caught using cage-type traps baited with venison and quail, a small game bird.

The traps were equipped with doors that closed when the cats entered.

Bobcats are hard to find in the wild and are rarely seen by humans, but these two turned out to be docile.

He sat calmly looking back while someone shined a torch at him, and when an RZSS ranger spoke to the lynx, the lynx did not run away.

Friday morning arrived and police warned of two more bobcat sightings in the same area.

A new search was launched involving police, RZSS, park rangers and a drone from the Cairngorms Mountain Rescue Team.

The lynx was captured later the same day and was not afraid of humans and not aggressive like the previous two.

RZSS said the cats walked directly into the traps set for them.

On Saturday it was confirmed that the male bobcat had died overnight.

RZSS, which took the three survivors into its care, said: All four lynxes showed signs of hunger.

These children, who are around six to eight months old, are described by experts as “naïve” and unlikely to find food for themselves.

The lynx was once native to Scotland before becoming extinct hundreds of years ago.

Charities campaigning to reintroduce the species condemned last year’s illegal release as an “irresponsible act”.

After being quarantined and health checked at Edinburgh Zoo, three survivors moved to Highland Wildlife Park.

They were given the names Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell.

A year after their ordeal, the cats have settled well into their new homes, RZSS said.

“Their outgoing nature keeps us on our toes and they have become a firm favorite with visitors,” said Lucy Petrie, animal operations manager at Highland Wildlife Park.

“Their personalities are really starting to shine as they now feel at home.

“Cardrona is the bravest of the trio; he stands out with his curious and mischievous nature.”

He said Caledonia is agile and can often be seen climbing trees in its habitat, while Bluebell likes to play with its food, throwing it into the air during feeding time.

Ms Petrie added: “Lynxes are unlikely to survive for very long after being abandoned, so we are happy to see them living happily in the park, enriching their lives.

“They all enjoy chasing each other and playfully chasing birds in the early morning hours. Their favorite place is to rest together on top of their houses.”

A possible clue to the origin of the lynxes, dubbed the Cairngorms Four, has reportedly been found near where they were spotted.

BBC Scotland News reported that bedding was found with porcupine quills in the straw.

Did the person who released the cats have other exotic animals?

A license under the Dangerous Animals Act is required to keep a lynx.

Local authority Highland Council said last year that no premises in the area had applied for or operated under a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) licence, suggesting they came from elsewhere.

Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot, also said at the time that it had not issued any licenses for the reintroduction of lynxes.

Police told BBC Scotland this week there was no update on the incident and investigations were ongoing.

Asked if RZSS had any theories, Ms Petrie said: “We cannot speculate as to how or why the lynx was abandoned as it is the subject of Police Scotland’s ongoing investigation.

“Releasing animals into the wild without appropriate research, planning and consultation is reckless and risks harming both wildlife and local communities.”

He added: “Conservation should be guided by science, collaboration and long-term planning, not impulsive actions, no matter how well-intentioned.”