Park rangers are desperately trying to capture feral pigs illegally dumped five miles from the spot where lynx were released last month.
A herd of around 20 wild boars have been seen on the loose in the Cairngorms. Park chiefs say the pigs were spotted near the Uath Lochans area of the Highlands park, near the small community of Insh on Monday.
Officials at the Cairngorms National Park confirmed that staff were on the hunt for the “relatively domesticated” animals. In a statement on social media, they revealed it was likely that the release of the herd was illegal.
The pigs are the latest illicit release of wildlife in the area with the current search coming just weeks after four lynx were unleashed sparking a major search.
Cops are still probing the lynx incident which saw one of the wild cats tragically die after being abandoned in what the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) described as a new and “extremely harsh” environment.
However, Police Scotland say they have no involvement in the current operation to capture the wild boars.
A park authority spokesman said on social media: “We are aware that feral pigs have been spotted in an area of the Cairngorms National Park near Uath Lochans.
“The park authority is working closely with partners – including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) – to ascertain the full facts on the ground and FLS is currently attempting to trap the animals.
“The animals appear to be relatively domesticated and it is likely that this is an illegal release. The park authority condemns any illegal release of animals in the strongest possible terms.”
The release of the wild boars has been blasted as “reckless” and shared fears of neglect of the animals welfare.
Ross Ewing, director of moorland at the Scottish Land & Estates, said: “This appears to be a reckless and illegal act which demonstrates a total disregard for both animal welfare and the wider environment.
“We saw the tragic consequences of last month’s illegal lynx release, which resulted in the death of one of the animals.
“Those responsible for these incidents show little concern for the welfare of the species they release or the serious impacts they could have.”
Last year feral pigs reportedly wreaked havoc in the Highlands’ Great Glen. Herds of the animals were blamed for killing sheep and left a trail of destruction on grazing land on crofts and farms.
A NatureScot spokesman said: “We are aware of a number of sightings of feral pigs in the Insh area.
“FLS are leading on trapping these animals and we are liaising with partner agencies to ascertain the full circumstances of how they came to be in the area.”
Forestry and Land Scotland North Region Area Wildlife Manager Tom Cameron added: “It is important to contain the pigs. This is for their own welfare and because we don’t know their origin or whether there is the potential for them to spread any disease across domesticated livestock in the area.
“As we work to confirm the exact location of the pigs, we are asking people to stay away from the area so the animals are not unduly stressed or startled. However, if anyone happens to come across the group please report the sighting location to our North Region enquiries line on 0300 067 6100.”
The RZSS say they are not involved in the wild boar release after they swooped to the care of the three surviving lynx. The wild cats are being housed at Edinburgh Zoo.
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