A GROUP of feral pigs spotted running wild in the Cairngorms National Park have been captured and “humanely culled”.
The pigs were spotted on Monday, near Uath Lochans in the Highlands, close to where four lynx were also captured last month.
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have said that the pigs, also known as wild boar, were released with “apparent disregard” for any consequences on the existing wildlife and the pigs themselves.
They have now been captured and put down on advice of veterinarians and Police Scotland.
On Monday, the group of animals were spotted roaming the park, just five miles from where four illegally released lynx were spotted and captured earlier this year.
One of the four lynx unfortunately passed away shortly after recapture, and though the cause of death is unclear, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said that the animals would have been under unimaginable stress due to placement in an “entirely new and extremely harsh environment”.
They described the illegal release of animals as a “highly irresponsible act” that poses a threat to “animals, the public, the community, and nature”.
FLS stated that feral pigs pose an issue for land managers as they can potentially spread diseases to other animals, can cause crop damage and potentially damage to property.
NatureScot confirmed: “Wild boar are former natives, which means that it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release them or allow them to escape.”
Although pictures circulated earlier this week showing nine pigs, and some reported that as many as 20 were loose in the park, FLS have confirmed that eight were captured and culled, and that they have no knowledge of other pigs that may be in the area.
FLS worked together with NatureScot and the Cairngorms National Park Authority to locate and trap the animals, and confirmed yesterday that eight pigs were moved to an FLS location and humanely culled.
A spokesperson for FLS said today: “The feral pigs, classed as a non-native species, were released with an apparent disregard for the illegality of such action and for the potential consequences that this might have on local habitats and wildlife, on other livestock or even on the welfare of the feral pigs themselves.
“All land managers are acutely aware of the issues caused by localised populations of feral pigs in other parts of Scotland and current Scottish Government guidance encourages land managers to control feral pig numbers to manage their impacts on agriculture and the environment.
“In light of these considerations the animals were captured, moved to an FLS location and, with the further expert advice of veterinarians and of Police Scotland, have now been humanely culled.”