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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Illegal Lynx Release Sparks Fears for Scotland’s Farmers and Wildlife Laws

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The illegal release of four lynx in the Cairngorms has sparked outrage among Scotland’s farming community, with NFU Scotland demanding stronger action against those responsible for this reckless crime.

NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy has written to Farming Minister Jim Fairlie and Acting Climate Change Minister Alasdair Allan, urging them to prioritise identifying and prosecuting those behind the release.

Kennedy described the act as highly irresponsible and warned it was something farmers and crofters had been anticipating, given the lack of consequences in previous cases of illegal wildlife releases.

The four lynx, which were quickly recaptured, had been released without any consultation, leaving farmers worried about the threat to livestock and the long-term implications of such unlawful actions.

Kennedy praised the swift recapture efforts but stressed that simply removing the animals was not enough, calling for robust investigations and penalties to deter future incidents.

During First Minister’s Questions earlier this month, the First Minister condemned the release, labelling it an illegal act that should never have happened, a sentiment echoed by NFU Scotland.

Kennedy’s letter highlighted the parallels with the illegal release of beavers in Tayside in 2006, a case that has left a bitter legacy among farmers and landowners.

The beaver release, which caused thousands of pounds in damage, led to what Kennedy called a failure of justice, with no suspects identified and no penalties handed down.

Instead of being removed, the beavers were allowed to stay under the guise of a trial, eventually gaining protected status, despite the impact on farmland and infrastructure.

This lack of accountability, Kennedy argued, has emboldened environmental groups to bypass legal processes, leading to further illegal wildlife releases in Scotland and beyond.

The rise of so-called “beaver bombings” in England has heightened concerns that illegal rewilding could become a growing trend, putting additional strain on farmers and rural communities.

Kennedy warned that Scotland’s farming sector must not be left to shoulder the consequences of unlawful rewilding experiments, which risk undermining trust in proper wildlife management practices.

He urged the Scottish Government to allocate resources to fully investigate the Cairngorms lynx release, ensuring those responsible are identified and face sanctions that send a clear message.

The NFU Scotland President stressed that rural crimes, while often difficult to solve due to their remote nature, cannot be ignored, as failure to act could set a dangerous precedent.

Farmers and crofters are calling for zero tolerance towards illegal wildlife releases, arguing that these actions threaten both livelihoods and Scotland’s delicate rural ecosystems.

Kennedy’s appeal reflects the deep frustration among the farming community, who feel their concerns are often overlooked in the face of public support for rewilding initiatives.

The illegal release of lynx has reignited a debate about the balance between conservation efforts and the rights of landowners, with many now looking to the Scottish Government for decisive action.

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