Rangers in Cairngorm are searching for a flock of wild pigs believed to have been illegally released in a national park.
The animal was found last month near the Uath Lochans area, near the Inch village where four lynxes were illegally released.
The sighting of the pig has sparked further concerns about fraudsters who intend to re-revive the Highlands by stealth.
Confirming that efforts are underway to lock up animals that appear to be rather tamed, the Cairngorms National Park Service said it condemned the illegal release of the animals “in the strongest possible conditions.”
The four Eurasian lynx were abandoned near Kingsea in early January and then were humanely captured by experts from the Royal Society of Scotland (RZSS) in early January.
RZSS said the lynx was under great stress after being abandoned in a “very harsh” environment.
A Parks Bureau spokesman said in a statement:
“The animals appear relatively tame, but this could be illegal release. Park officials will condemn the illegal release of animals in the strongest possible conditions.”
The wild boar was native to Scotland, but was forced to extinct about 700 years ago. Over the past decade, a population of thousands of free roaming stray dogs has been established in Dumfries and Galloway, Highlands.
These include animals that fled the farm, animals that were illegally released into the wild, and hybrids of wild boars and domestic pigs. Although not usually aggressive towards humans, wild pigs weigh up to 100 kg, pose a risk to livestock, wildlife and farmland.
The local Crofters Co-op has an estimated 20 feral pigs (wild boars) left nearby within weeks of the illegal release of four lynxes in the woodland near Kingsea. You need to think what the hell is going on and who is behind these very irresponsible releases. ”
A spokesman for Cairngorms Crafters and Farmers Community added: “As proven elsewhere in Scotland, these creatures can cause serious problems for crofts and farms. Their perseverance behaviour is in the form of pastures, hay fields, barley and oats. Destroy the crops. The planted fields are particularly vulnerable. They also damage the fence, allowing sheep and cattle to escape, causing further losses to crofters and farmers.”
Scottish Lands and Estates (SLE), which supports rural businesses, condemned the “reckless” release and encouraged anyone with information to contact the police.
Scotland's Northern Regional Wildlife Manager Tom Cameron said his staff are working to find herds with the aim of using a trapping system in the enclosure.
He said: “This is for their own welfare, and whether we don't know their origins or whether they could spread the disease to domesticated livestock in the area.”
After the newsletter promotion
Cameron asked the locals to leave the area during that time. He said: “When we work to check the exact location of the pigs, we ask people to leave the area and not cause the animals to be unfairly stressed or surprised. I'm here.”
The three surviving lynx remain in quarantine at the Edinburgh Zoo. Last week, first minister John Swinney ruled out the legal reintroduction of Lynx at the NFU Scotland Conference.
However, conservators working on partnership projects to set up approved programs to restore Lynx in the region said there is no reason why “carefully managed” reintroduction could not be possible.
