THE Cairngorms National Park Authority have confirmed that “feral” pigs have been spotted close to where four lynx were illegally released last month.
The pigs were spotted yesterday, and teams are currently attempting to capture the animals.
The park, located in the Scottish Highlands, was the site of an illegal release of four of the big cats earlier this year, one of which died soon after capture.
The park states that the pigs also appear to have been illegally released, as the Park Authority works with NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland to figure out how they came to be in the area.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority released a statement yesterday, saying: “We are aware that feral pigs have been spotted in an area of the Cairngorms National Park near Uath Lochans.”
The pigs were spotted just five miles from the Dell of Killiehuntly, where four lynx were sighted and later captured in January.
The National Park went on to say: “The Park Authority is working closely with partners – including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland – to ascertain the full facts on the ground and Forestry and Land Scotland is currently attempting to trap the animals.
“The animals appear to be relatively domesticated, and it is likely that this is an illegal release.
“The Park Authority condemns any illegal release of animals in the strongest possible terms.”
Following the capture of two of the four lynx illegally released in the park, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said “We condemn the illegal release of these lynx in the strongest possible terms.
“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, the public, the community and nature”.
Feral pigs are described as an invasive species by NatureScot, who state: “In recent decades, breeding populations of feral pigs have become established in Scotland as a result of escapes or illegal releases.
“These animals come from a mix of both wild boar and domestic pigs and, as such, they are not native to Scotland.
“Releasing any new species, such as wild boar, requires a licence from NatureScot.
“NatureScot has not issued any licence to allow the release of wild boar in Scotland.”
Although Police Scotland assisted with the capture of the lynx released in Kingussie, they have confirmed that they have no involvement with the capture of the feral pigs at this time.
