A pair of tamed lynx, captured after being released into the Cairngorms National Park, are unlikely to survive in the wild due to their dependence on humans for food and shelter. According to David Field, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the animals were “mad, sad and bad” because they have been habituated to humans and warm environments.
The two lynx, nicknamed the “Killiehuntly Two”, are around a year old and were trapped overnight into Thursday. They are being cared for by RZSS staff who are working on the reintroduction of Scottish wildcats. The animals were taken to quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore, where their health and welfare will be assessed.
The RZSS has discovered that there is a small population of lynx held in private hands in the UK, which may be connected to the released animals. David Field warned that releasing tamed lynx into the wild poses a huge risk to both the animals and the community. He said: “You can’t just put an animal into the wild and expect it to survive. It’s cruel.”
The police are investigating the origins of the released lynx, which were found in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie on Friday. The RZSS is committed to finding a home for the animals, with tens of thousands of pounds being invested in their care. The organization is also working to raise awareness about the risks associated with releasing tamed wildlife into the wild.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/captured-lynx-had-been-tamed-and-are-used-to-humans-says-expert-101736530106084.html