A pair of lynx have been let loose on to the Scottish Highlands, prompting a police search.
The wild cats were originally believed to have escaped from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig.
However rangers and the police confirmed that they had not escaped from the park, which is home to a number of lynx and sits two miles away from where the animals were last spotted.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) said it was treating the sighting of the lynx as a “suspected illegal release”.
Inquiries are ongoing to establish where the wild cats have come from. Police have warned the public not to approach the creatures.
Sir Edward Mountain, Conservative MSP for the Highlands, said: “Whoever has released these animals is both reckless and irresponsible. They have not only broken the law, they have effectively put the animals’ lives at risk.”
Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, has condemned the apparent illegal release as ‘irresponsible’
Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Really shocking news. This apparent illegal release is utterly irresponsible. The welfare of these animals is a real concern.”
The CNPA said that while the lynx are shy animals and of “low risk to humans” they urged the public not to approach them if spotted.
A spokesman said: “The Park Authority have been notified about a suspected illegal release of two lynx in the Cairngorms National Park. Police Scotland have been informed and are working closely with partners to establish the full picture and take appropriate action.
“We condemn the illegal release of wild animals in the strongest possible terms and we are also concerned for the welfare of the lynx that have been released.”
Police Scotland said in a statement: “Around 4.20pm on Wednesday, police were advised that two lynx had been spotted in the Drumguish area near to Kingussie.
“Specially trained staff from Highland Wildlife Park are assisting officers to trace them.”
There have been calls for lynx to be returned to the Scottish countryside in a rewilding trial – a move opposed by farming groups including NFU Scotland.
The case for reintroducing lynx to Scotland was discussed in the Scottish Parliament for the first time in 2023.
The predator could help control booming numbers of roe deer, supporters previously argued.