Feral pigs on the loose in Scottish Highlands

The wild boar have been seen in the same area where four lynx were spotted – and
recaptured – after being dumped last month.

Monday 10 February 2025 22:13, UK

An estimated 20 feral pigs have been spotted in the Scottish Highlands following
a suspected illegal release.

The animals have been seen in woodlands near Kingussie in the Cairngorms
National Park – where four lynx were dumped
[https://news.sky.com/story/second-pair-of-deliberately-abandoned-lynx-cats-captured-in-highlands-13286785]
last month.

The park’s authority has said staff are attempting to trap the wild boar and
working “to ascertain the full facts” on how they ended up there.

“The animals appear to be relatively domesticated and it is likely that this is
an illegal release,” it said. “The Park Authority condemns any illegal release
of animals in the strongest possible terms.”

The seemingly illegal dumping has also been condemned by the Cairngorms crofters
and farmers group, which said it is “extremely concerned” the pigs “could pose a
significant disease risk to livestock, wildlife, and even humans”.

“Diseases such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB), foot-and-mouth disease, and
leptospirosis could have devastating consequences for Scotland’s farming
community,” it said in a post on Facebook.

Wild boar were once native to Scotland
[https://news.sky.com/topic/scotland-5866] but became extinct in the thirteenth
century due to overhunting and habitat loss, according to the Scottish Wildlife
Trust. They have occasionally reappeared after escapes and deliberate releases.

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The pigs could cause “serious problems” including destroying pastures, crops,
hay fields and fences, the Cairngorms crofters and farmers added – noting that
while “wild boar and feral pigs are not usually aggressive, they can be
dangerous in certain situations”.

“Our members are deeply concerned and utterly condemn these unlawful releases,”
the group said.

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It comes after four lynx were illegally released
[https://news.sky.com/story/two-more-lynx-spotted-on-the-loose-in-the-scottish-highlands-13286368]
in the same national park last month.

The first two lynx were captured in the region on 9 January and just two days
later, another pair was spotted and subsequently captured. One of the animals
died while being cared for
[https://news.sky.com/story/illegally-released-lynx-cat-dies-after-capture-in-scottish-highlands-13287002].

The three surviving wildcats were taken to Edinburgh Zoo for a period of
quarantine.