Park rangers are on a mission to capture feral pigs that have potentially been unlawfully released in the Cairngorms. The Cairngorms National Park Authority reported sightings of the pigs near the Uath Lochans area of the Highlands park, close to the community of Insh, on Monday. It is suspected that these animals were recklessly abandoned, prompting park staff to work on capturing the “fairly tame” pigs. Interestingly, these pigs were observed just five miles away from where four lynx were improperly set free in the park last month. While the lynx were successfully captured, unfortunately, one of them passed away shortly after. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) highlighted that the lynx would have experienced significant stress after being abandoned in a new and challenging environment. A spokesperson for the park authority shared on social media: “We have received reports of feral pigs in a section of the Cairngorms National Park near Uath Lochans. The park authority is collaborating with partners, including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), to gather accurate information on the ground, with FLS currently working on trapping the animals. These animals appear to be quite domesticated, making it highly probable that their release was illegal. The park authority strongly condemns any unauthorized release of animals.” The Cairngorms National Park, which spans 1,748 square miles (2,813 sq km), covers portions of five local authorities—Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth and Kinross. Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), an organization supporting rural businesses, denounced the reckless release and urged individuals with details to contact the authorities. Ross Ewing, SLE’s moorland director, expressed concern, stating: “This act appears to be reckless and unlawful, displaying complete disregard for animal welfare and the environment as a whole. We witnessed the tragic outcome of last month’s illegal lynx release, resulting in the death of one of the animals. Those responsible for such acts show little regard for the well-being of the released species or the potential serious repercussions.” Reports from last year indicated that herds of feral pigs were causing issues in the Great Glen region of the Highlands. These pigs were held accountable for sheep deaths and land damage on crofts and farms. This situation led to calls for a reduction in the pig population, comprising both escapees and those intentionally set free. Estimates suggest there could be a few thousand feral pigs across Scotland. A spokesperson from NatureScot mentioned: “There have been several sightings of feral pigs in the Insh area. FLS is managing the trapping of these animals, and we are in contact with partner organizations to determine the complete circumstances surrounding their presence in the area.” It was also noted that Police Scotland had been notified about the situation, though no police involvement
Mysterious lynx Lynx dies after being captured in Cairngorms.
