Recent illegal lynx release is ‘reckless’ says NFUS

The recent release of four lynx in Scotland’s Cairngorms has been described as reckless and illegal by NFU Scotland.

In a letter to Scottish ministers, NFU Scotland (NFUS) president Martin Kennedy stressed the importance of finding and holding perpetrators to account swiftly.

See also: James Herrick: Lynx reintroduction is ‘idealistic’

“The recent illegal release of four lynx in the Cairngorms was a highly irresponsible act, but sadly one our members have been predicting for some time,” he wrote.

“We are extremely grateful for the swift action taken in recapturing the animals, but we believe more must be done to identify the individuals responsible and to bring them to justice.”

NFUS members have been increasingly concerned about illegal rewilding releases.

The illegal release of beavers in Tayside in 2006, the union highlights, provided a model for environmental groups to bypass due process and clear legal requirements, and force the rewilding of species.

NatureScot and the Scottish government allowed the animals to stay, resulting in numbers expanding. The beavers have since received protected status.

“The lack of consequence in this case has led to a spate of ‘beaver bombings’ in England, where similar illegal releases have taken place, causing concerns from our members that illegal releases will become the norm,” added Mr Kennedy.

‘No threat to people’ 

Supporters of the reintroduction of the Eurasian Lynx have said there are no good reasons for not doing so.

Arguing that these animals are known as “ghosts of the woods” in Scandinavia, due to their secretive nature, former non-executive Defra director Ben Goldsmith argues that “these wild cats are about the size of a labrador” and “pose no threat to people”.

But Argyll farmer and chairman of NFUS’s less favoured areas committee, Peter Kennedy, commented: “The recent illegal release of lynx in the Cairngorms, which has resulted in the death of one of the lynx, is nothing short of animal cruelty – and whoever is behind the release should be caught and absolutely held to account. 

“In this criminal incident, during one of the coldest periods of the winter so far, there was clearly no consideration given to the welfare of the animals nor the wider rural community.”