Alastair Redman, an Independent Councillor for Kintyre and the Islands, said: "The illegal release of lynx and the wider rewilding agenda are reckless and ideologically driven. They prioritise abstract environmental theories over the practical realities of rural life. Our farmers and crofters are already under immense pressure, and these proposals add yet another burden to their shoulders."
A lynx has died after it was released into the Cairngorms National Park illegally.
In a joint effort alongside Police Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has confirmed one of the four wildcats captured overnight on Friday (January 10) died after the animals were 'thrust into an extremely harsh environment to fend for themselves'.
Police Scotland Highland and Islands had confirmed a total of four lynx were roaming the Scottish Highlands last week before they were captured by trained animal officers.
Dr Helen Senn, RZSS head of conservation, claimed the animals had been 'abandoned and starved' following their release into the national park.
Quarantine
The remaining three lynxes are now being held in quarantine at Edinburgh Zoo.
She added: "We do not yet know the circumstances behind one of the wildcat's death but will be carrying out a postmortem to try to establish what happened.
"Whatever the case, this unfortunate development just serves to further demonstrate the folly of abandoning these amazing animals in the wild, with no preparation or real concern for their welfare.
"We can only imagine the stress that all four of the recovered lynx must have experienced after being thrust into an entirely new and extremely harsh environment to fend for themselves.
"Our team of expert keepers and veterinarians will now ensure that they get the best possible care moving forward."
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Rewilding
Alastair Redman, an Independent Councillor for Kintyre and the Islands, who is also from a crofting family, has condemned the illegal release of the wildcats.
Mr Redman has also reiterated his firm opposition to rewilding policies, which he believes are 'harmful' to Scotland's rural communities, farmers and crofters.
"Rewilding initiatives, including the reintroduction of predators like the lynx, are misguided and detrimental to those who live and work in rural Scotland," he added.
"These policies impose significant risks to livestock, rural livelihoods and the traditional way of life that has sustained our communities for generations.
"Such incidents highlight the dangers of rewilding efforts conducted outside of legal frameworks and without community consultation."
Predators
He also emphasised the impracticality of introducing predators into Scotland, where farmland, livestock and human settlements create 'unavoidable conflicts'.
"The illegal release of lynx and the wider rewilding agenda are reckless and ideologically driven," Mr Redman added.
"They prioritise abstract environmental theories over the practical realities of rural life.
"Our farmers and crofters are already under immense pressure, and these proposals add yet another burden to their shoulders.
"Deer management and biodiversity improvement can be achieved through sustainable and practical measures, without resorting to high-risk predator introductions.
"These policies do not serve the interests of Scotland's rural communities and should be firmly rejected."
Investigation
Coun Redman has called for a full investigation into the illegal releases and urged the Scottish Government to abandon its 'rewilding agenda' in favour of policies that respect rural communities and their way of life.
"I stand with my constituents who have made it clear that they do not want rewilding policies forced upon them," he said.
"It is time to listen to the people who will be directly affected by these decisions."
Reintroduction
Seamus Logan, SNP Rural Affairs spokesperson and Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP, said he had received assurances from the Scottish Government that there was no intention to allow the reintroduction of the lynx.
"This assurance from the Scottish Government is very welcome," Mr Logan added.
"I am aware that this issue surfaces quite regularly when environmental organisations suggest reintroducing lynx to Scotland, and the events of the past few days are a good example of why this would be a bad idea.
"The message needs to go out that there is no appetite for lynx reintroduction through any formal process and doing so illegally simply puts these animals and the wider environment at risk."
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Alasdair Allan, acting Scottish Government Minister for climate action, said: "I would like to reassure your constituents that the Scottish Government has no intention to reintroduce lynx to Scotland.
"There are also currently no licence applications to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivorous species into Scotland.
"The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations sets out when conservation translocations may be appropriate, and the types of situations in which they may cause problems to wildlife, people and the environment.
"However, the Scottish Government does not believe that there is the necessary support amongst the Scottish public in general and land managers in particular for such a reintroduction to take place at present."
