Runaway lynx rescued after illegal release in Highlands named by local kids

Daily Record

2 days ago

Children from a local primary school chose the named of the wild cats.
Three lynx rescued after being illegally released in the Scottish Highlands have been named Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell by children from a local primary school.
The animals were caught in January after the alarm was raised and were found with signs of starvation while roaming the Cairngorms.
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A fourth lynx sadly died following capture.
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They are currently under the care of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) at Highland Wildlife Park after initially being taken in by Edinburgh Zoo for a period of quarantine.
Judith Bowman, carnivore team leader, 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.
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"Without support from kind people like this our wildlife conservation charity wouldn't be able to continue its vital work."
The cats were confirmed in January as being Eurasian lynx – the largest of four species of the animals. Zoo chiefs revealed in February the trio are all female, and are believed to be less than a year old. The lynx have been given temporary names 'A', 'B' and 'C'.
The lynx that died in captivity was a male estimated to be the same age as the females.
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In February, RZSS chief executive David Field said: 'Illegally releasing these cats into the wild was highly irresponsible and it is likely they would have died had they not been rescued."
Lynx were driven to extinction on British shores hundreds of years ago despite still present throughout much of Europe and Asia.
RZSS officials said the animals were showing signs of starvation when they were found.
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Campaigns to reintroduce the apex predators to areas of the UK, such as in the Scottish highlands, have met opposition from some sheep farmers who fear for the safety of their own animals.
Scotland's National Lynx Discussion found that sheep and other livestock, especially those near wooded areas, are more vulnerable to such predation.
Experts say en effective management system could include paying farmers for losses and co-existence, with relocation or lethal control as "necessary components" of any framework to manage the issue.
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The report also revealed that lynx could have a "significant" impact on game birds in places where the species come into contact, though they are unlikely to play a major part in the animals ' diet at a national level.
But it was also found there is 'sufficient' space in the country to support the introduction of the animals into the eco-system.
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life and a member of the stakeholder group, said: "We met 12 times for over 50 hours in total. Deep and extensive discussions allowed us to learn lessons from lynx reintroductions in Europe, assess possible impacts if lynx are returned to Scotland, and recommend key actions to avoid or manage potential problems.
"While not everyone who took part supports the return of lynx, we now have a clear understanding of what needs to be put in place if a reintroduction is to happen.