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WILDCATS FOUND
Second pair of lynx captured in the Highlands after ‘rollercoaster 48 hours’
Read on to discover more about the Highland wildlife mystery
TWO more wildcats have been rescued in the Highlands after being illegally dumped in a Scots village.
The second pair of lynx who appear to have been deliberately abandoned in the Cairngorms have now been safely captured.
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Cops earlier issued a "do not approach" warning and informed locals that specially trained personnel are assisting with the search.
Wildlife personnel from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland earlier joined police in their search for the animals.
Having safely recovered the second pair of wild cats, the RZSS issued the following statement.
They said: "The medium-sized cats were spotted on camera traps overnight on 9/10th Jan.
"Staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland then baited a series of humane traps in the area to entice them with and have been working with Police Scotland and Rangers from the Cairngorms National Park Authority to monitor the area throughout the day.
"The animals were captured at around 6:30 pm, near to the Dell of Killiehuntly, where two other lynx had been successfully caught the previous day.
"They will now be brought to the nearby Highland Wildlife Park to be checked over by RZSS veterinarians, before being moved to quarantine facilities in Edinburgh Zoo."
Dr Helen Senn, RZSS Head of Conservation said: “I’m sure that everyone in the community will be happy and relieved to know that the second pair of lynx have been safely captured.
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"Early reports are that they appear to be in good health, which is the most important thing.
"It’s been a rollercoaster 48 hours, with people working throughout the day and night, in some extremely challenging conditions, but I’ve been so impressed by the efforts of our own staff as well as partners, and members of the local community to ensure that the outcome is a positive one.
Man captures ‘jaw dropping’ footage of a ‘lynx’ stalking a village in Wales – but is all as it seems
"The lynx will now be moved to Highland Wildlife Park before being moved to Edinburgh Zoo to quarantine for 30 days.
“Although we don’t think that there are any more lynx out there, we will continue to monitor the release site under the direction of Police Scotland.”
It comes days after ANOTHER two lynx escaped from the same location.
The sighting on Wednesday sparked a warning from police who warned locals to stay clear of the animals.
Specialists from the Highland Wildlife Park were called into assist Police Scotland with the hunt.
Cops said the animals were abandoned illegally.
Now animal welfare experts have confirmed the cats were trapped overnight and are now being cared for in quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo.
BIG CATS IN SCOTLAND
Previously we told how dozens of big cat sightings have been recorded in Scotland with one beast 'the size of a Labrador' said to have slaughtered 36 sheep.
And jaw-dropping footage captured the moment a “hybrid panther” is seen stalking through the Scottish countryside.
Or so says Gordon Welsh, 50, who was walking along the road near Blackdog, Aberdeenshire, when he spotted the animal.
While back in 2018, a teenager caused panic in Ayrshire after using a laser cutter to create a metal panther, which he then stuck in a field.
Robbie Brown, then 18, posted snaps on social media, which were shared hundreds of times, after a big animal was spotted near Sinclairston.
Police received a call about the hoax cat - and even sent out a helicopter with thermal imaging equipment to try and trace it.
David Field, RZSS chief executive, said: “We condemn the illegal release of these lynx in the strongest possible terms.
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“It was a highly irresponsible act and it is very unlikely they would have survived in the wild due to a lack of adequate preparation.
“Their abandonment was reckless to the animals, public the community and nature.