Illegal reintroductions of lynx are irresponsible and the wrong path forward for rewilding in Scotland

Abstract

In January 2025 four Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) were illegally released into the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands. All four animals were subsequently captured but unfortunately one lynx died overnight. While the conservation community has widely condemned the unknown perpetrators, possibly guerrilla rewilders, little attention has been given to why illegal releases are damaging. Here I outline the three main social-cultural reasons as to why an illegal reintroduction is irresponsible - 1) a breakdown in dialogue and trust; 2) the negative implications for conflict and coexistence; and 3) the spread of misinformation and politicisation – and the disproportionate benefits of a legal reintroduction. Scotland’s history is already littered with illicit releases which have damaged trust and sparked human-wildlife conflicts which otherwise may have been avoided or mitigated. Without patience, empathy, and dialogue to co-produce a reintroduction plan and coexistence strategies, any legal reintroduction of lynx is doomed to fail – let alone an illegal release.