Edinburgh Zoo has given names to the rescued lynx
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) trapped the vulnerable big cats in January after they were spotted near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park.
The animals – all females thought to be under a year old – were quarantined at Edinburgh Zoo before being given a permanent home together at the RZSS's Highland Wildlife Park in May.
The wildlife conservation charity offered the chance to name the trio to Scottish schools and people and organisations who had donated money to help care for the animals.
Judith Bowman, carnivore team leader at Highland Wildlife Park, said: 'It has been wonderful to care for the three girls here at the park over the past month. We are already seeing their playful and curious personalities flourish.
'Thank you to Kinlochleven Primary P3-4, who chose Bluebell's name, and submitted an amazing competition entry on their commitment to protecting nature.
'Caledonia was named by our prize draw winner and Cardrona by the Weir Charitable Trust. Without support from kind people like this our wildlife conservation charity wouldn't be able to continue its vital work.'
A total of four lynx were abandoned in freezing conditions in January. They were humanely trapped but one, a male around the same age, died shortly after being rescued.
The surviving trio were put into quarantine in Edinburgh where they were monitored closely by vets and given full health checks.
It was quickly established that the animals would not be able to survive in the wild, which ruled out any possibility they could be transported to parts of Europe where the species is being reintroduced.
Speaking in May, RZSS chief executive David Field said: 'The lynx were clearly habituated to humans and would most likely have died if they hadn't been rescued as they would not have been able to find food for themselves.
'Caring for these cats at Highland Wildlife Park will help raise awareness of this incredible species and support discussions about how to reintroduce wildlife in Scotland responsibly.'
Visitors to Highland Wildlife Park can now spot Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell and learn more about the species and the conservation challenges they face.
Like this:
Like
Related
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
4 hours ago
- STV News
Scots zoo celebrates baby boom following arrival of several new residents
A Scottish zoo is celebrating a summer baby boom following the arrival of several new residents. Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder has welcomed a flurry of new life across a number of species. A Humboldt penguin chick has hatched and is thriving under the watchful eyes of its proud parents. Meanwhile, baby Parma wallabies have made their first appearances from the safety of their mothers' pouches, delighting guests with glimpses of their tiny faces. Five Sisters Zoo Baby Parma wallaby Five Sisters Zoo Two emperor tamarin babies, known for their striking moustache-like facial hair, are clinging closely to their parents in the tropical enclosure. Elsewhere, a playful group of prairie dog pups has emerged from their burrows, already entertaining visitors with their antics. Five Sisters Zoo prairie dog pup Five Sisters Zoo 'This baby boom is a wonderful reflection of the positive, healthy environments we've created for our animals,' said a spokesperson at Five Sisters Zoo. 'While some of the births are part of planned breeding programs, others are simply a natural outcome of animals feeling safe, settled, and well cared for — and every arrival is worth celebrating.' Each birth is part of the zoo's ongoing commitment to conservation and education, with many species playing a role in breeding programs designed to help safeguard vulnerable populations. Five Sisters Zoo A Humboldt penguin chick Five Sisters Zoo Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Edinburgh Reporter
5 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Zoo has given names to the rescued lynx
Three abandoned lynx which were quarantined in Edinburgh after they were rescued in the Highlands have been named Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) trapped the vulnerable big cats in January after they were spotted near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park. The animals – all females thought to be under a year old – were quarantined at Edinburgh Zoo before being given a permanent home together at the RZSS's Highland Wildlife Park in May. The wildlife conservation charity offered the chance to name the trio to Scottish schools and people and organisations who had donated money to help care for the animals. Judith Bowman, carnivore team leader at Highland Wildlife Park, said: 'It has been wonderful to care for the three girls here at the park over the past month. We are already seeing their playful and curious personalities flourish. 'Thank you to Kinlochleven Primary P3-4, who chose Bluebell's name, and submitted an amazing competition entry on their commitment to protecting nature. 'Caledonia was named by our prize draw winner and Cardrona by the Weir Charitable Trust. Without support from kind people like this our wildlife conservation charity wouldn't be able to continue its vital work.' A total of four lynx were abandoned in freezing conditions in January. They were humanely trapped but one, a male around the same age, died shortly after being rescued. The surviving trio were put into quarantine in Edinburgh where they were monitored closely by vets and given full health checks. It was quickly established that the animals would not be able to survive in the wild, which ruled out any possibility they could be transported to parts of Europe where the species is being reintroduced. Speaking in May, RZSS chief executive David Field said: 'The lynx were clearly habituated to humans and would most likely have died if they hadn't been rescued as they would not have been able to find food for themselves. 'Caring for these cats at Highland Wildlife Park will help raise awareness of this incredible species and support discussions about how to reintroduce wildlife in Scotland responsibly.' Visitors to Highland Wildlife Park can now spot Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell and learn more about the species and the conservation challenges they face. Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
Five vintage girl names from the 1950s that are making a comeback and one is Scottish
Scots parents looking for a traditional name or one harking back to the 'Fabulous Fifties' should look no further As parents come to choose a name for their precious new-born child, they might think of the seasons, days of the week, months of the year - or back to their grandma or great-grandma's generation for inspiration. Old-school names can be very sweet to name your child, and can stand them in good stead for when they grow out of their youthful stage and into adulthood. In fact, going traditional is a popular route for a lot of parents-to-be. Over in the US, the Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps a list of the 1,000 most popular names in the US each year going back to 1900 to see which vintage names are on the up, and which are decreasing in popularity. In general, the boys' names, historically, have remained steady, and the girls' names experience big swings. For parents looking for vintage inspiration, these are all the girl names that are growing in popularity today. Good Housekeeping recently compiled a list of the grandma monikers that are getting trendier every year. The titles weren't necessarily devised in the 1950s, but they were very commonly used around that time period. What's more, all of these names increased in popularity between last year and the year before, which means they could be headed for the top again. And what's even more intriguing? One of the names is Scottish. Deborah The name Deborah, of Hebrew origin, means 'bee'. It's a feminine name, most famously borne by the prophetess in the Old Testament Book of Judges. The name is derived from the Hebrew word 'dvorah'. In the US, it was a very popular name from the 1950s to the 1970s, often ranking among the top 20 names for girls. It has been on the decline ever since - until last year, when it jumped more than 100 places in rank between last year and the year before in US top baby names. Marilyn Marilyn Monroe may spring to mind when you read this charming name, which means 'drop of the sea,' 'bitter', and 'beloved'. The name peaked earlier than the 1950s - in 1937 - but remained extremely popular throughout the '50s. The American actress, star of Some Like It Hot and The Misfits, was a global superstar. Her real name was Norma Jeane, of course, but that didn't stop parents and carers of this era from naming their children after her. . The name only stopped decreasing in popularity in 2022 and has been all over the map since. Judith Judith is a girl's name with Hebrew origins, inspired by Yehudit, meaning 'praised', 'woman of Judea', and 'Jewish woman'. For many, Judy is an abbreviation of Judith, of which there were many famous people including Judy Garland, Judy Davis, Judy Collins, and Judy Holliday to name a few, which may have upped its regard. Judith is a traditionally popular name in the UK, with rating it at a decent 65 per cent popularity on this side of the water. Leslie Meaning 'garden of holly', Leslie could be seeing a surge in popularity as the name is pretty gender-neutral and also ends with 'ie,' which is a growing and more recent trend among girls' names. Elsewhere, Marjorie, Scottie, Elodie and Lettie, all ending with this 'ie,' are all current fast risers. Bonnie Bonnie is a Scottish name meaning 'pretty' or 'beautiful', derived from the Scots word bonnie. The name was ranked #26 for baby girl's names in the UK in 2025, according to down just three from 2024, proving it to be a strong contender not only among wee ones born in Scotland but across the UK. The name peaked in 1950, at the dawn of the decade itself, according to Good Housekeeping, but dropped off the most popular baby names lists in the US in 2004. It reappeared in 2014 and has been steadily climbing ever since. Former Love Islander and Scottish TV personality Laura Anderson named her daughter Bonnie in 2023.
