'Don't approach!' Two more 'escaped' lynx spotted in Highlands as police issue urgent warning
Will Hollis speaks to zookeepers at whipsnade about the cold temperatures
GB NEWS
Two more lynx have been spotted near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park, where another pair of the wild cats were captured on Thursday.
The latest sighting occurred at approximately 7.10am on Friday, with Police Scotland confirming they believe it is connected to the earlier release.
Police have warned members of the public not to approach the animals.
Officers are working alongside specially-trained personnel to capture the newly-spotted lynx, as the search operation continues in the Scottish Highlands.
A stock image of a lynx
GETTY
Experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) have joined forces with police and Cairngorms National Park rangers in the search operation.
The search area encompasses hills and forestry on the edge of some of the highest mountains in the Cairngorms.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority has urged the public to stay away from the area while the operation is underway.
A police spokesman said: "Members of the public are asked not to approach the animals and officers are working with specially trained personnel to capture them."
Highland Wildlife Park released an image of the two big catsHIGHLAND WILDLIFE PARKThe two lynx captured earlier this week have been taken into the care of the RZSS at their quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park.
The animals will later be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo.
The RZSS has strongly condemned the illegal release of the animals, describing it as "highly irresponsible".
A licence is required under the Dangerous Animals Act to keep lynx in captivity.
Lynx were once native to Britain before being driven to extinction between 500 and 1,000 years ago.
Edinburgh ZooGOOGLE STREET VIEWThe Mammal Society, which supports reintroduction efforts, suggested that rogue rewilders could be behind the recent releases.
The organisation said it would welcome "a stable and healthy population of wild lynx thriving in the UK" to restore biodiversity.
However, the society stressed that while it understood the "frustration" that could lead to illegal releases, there were "no shortcuts" and such actions were "irresponsible".
The Cairngorms National Park Authority has issued a direct appeal for people to avoid the search area during the ongoing operation.
The area where the lynx have been spotted includes challenging terrain of hills and forestry near some of the Cairngorms' highest peaks.
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