Fuming farmers have demanded a crackdown on rogue rewilders after the illegal release of four lynx in the Cairngorms.
Scotland’s farming union called for a “zero tolerance” approach and a major manhunt to find the culprits after the big cats were found abandoned in the Highland wilderness last week. The animals were subsequently recaptured, however, one lynx sadly died with experts saying they showed signs of starvation. The three surviving lynx are currently being cared for at Edinburgh Zoo.
In a statement, National Farmers Union Scotland warned its members had long predicted such an incident – reflecting bitterly about past illegal releases of beavers into Scotland where the perpetrators were never identified. These so-called “beaver bombings” have been replicated in England, they said, with rogue environmentalists taking the law into their own hands to relocate the animals without due process.
In a letter to SNP ministers, NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said: “The recent illegal release of four lynx in the Cairngorms was a highly irresponsible act, but sadly one our members have been predicting for some time. We are extremely grateful for the swift action taken in recapturing the animals, but we believe more must be done to identify the individuals responsible and to bring them to justice…
“I therefore write to urge you to make resources available to fully investigate this crime. The persons responsible must be identified and they must receive sanctions sending a clear message that illegal releases will not be tolerated in Scotland.
“The illegal release of species onto our rural land is a wildlife crime, therefore those who carry out this act must be justly prosecuted.”
Beavers began to be reintroduced to Scotland in small numbers legally in 2009. However, a spate of illegal releases or escapes of beavers in the Tayside area saw populations rise significantly.
Experts this week told the Record how these unsanctioned releases now make up to 90 per cent of Scotland’s estimated 2000-strong population of beavers, who were then given native species status by the Scottish Government. Conservationist Peter Cairns – who backs a legal reintroduction of lynx to Scotland – said this could be a template for radical eco activists to bring back the big cats unlawfully.
In his letter, Kennedy agreed: “The illegal release of beavers in Tayside in 2006 provided a model for environmental groups wanting to bypass due process and clear legal requirements to force rewilding of species. The lack of sanctions against the individuals who released the beavers in Tayside, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, has always been a bitter pill for farmers to swallow…
“Environmentalists and the public vilified landowners for wanting to protect their land against damage whilst applauding those who committed the unlawful release.
He added: “We recognise that in the Tayside case no suspects were ever identified, preventing them from receiving penalties and rural crimes are often difficult to solve due to their remoteness. The lack of consequence in this case has led to a spate of ‘beaver bombings’ in England, where similar illegal releases have taken place, causing concerns from our members that illegal releases will become the norm.”
Rewilding campaigners say reintroducing lynx to Scotland – who were driven to extinction centuries ago by hunting and habitat loss – could boost the environment by acting as a natural predator to overgrazing woodland deer which have exploded in numbers.
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