The Scottish Rewilding Alliance condemns the abandonment or illegal release of any animals into any part of Scotland. 

Abandoning animals without care or consultation is not rewilding. It puts both nature and communities at risk, undermining rewilding efforts.

Like others, we await the results of the police investigations and hope that those behind the abandonment or illegal release of lynx and boar are identified and dealt with.

Lynx

We welcome the capture of the lynx found in the Cairngorms National Park last month. Our thanks go to the team at RZSS and others, including police officers and gamekeepers, for acting swiftly to safely recover these animals.

The Scottish Rewilding Alliance would like to see a responsibly managed and fully resourced legal reintroduction of lynx to Scotland in the future. Wild lynx are shy and elusive, pose no threat to people, and would help expand Scotland’s forests by preying on woodland deer. 

The Lynx to Scotland project is working towards a carefully planned reintroduction of lynx that respects the views of farmers and other stakeholders, so Scotland can once again benefit from having lynx in its natural environment. 

Boar

Wild boar create diverse habitats, boost biodiversity and improve soil health. Its presence in Scotland’s landscapes can provide a multitude of benefits for people as well as nature. But we must learn to coexist with these wild animals again - and our government must show leadership here too.

Scotland is already home to thousands of wild boar, with reports of free-roaming populations since the early 2000s. There are also over a thousand wild boar kept in captivity for food. The Scottish Government refers to all pigs living wild in Scotland as “feral pigs” because many are likely to be hybrids. 

In contrast, the Scottish Government has shown fantastic leadership in championing efforts to reduce hybridisation of wildcats. Reinforcing the number of wildcats has helped this predator fulfil its ecological role. 

Towards coexistence

Looking to the future, we call on all stakeholders, from government bodies to conservation groups, to collaborate in establishing clear, legal routes for reintroducing species such as lynx and wild boar, so that we may be able to coexist with these missing species in a harmonious and productive way.