The suspected unlawful release of pigs in the region raises concerns about unauthorised rewilding efforts and environmental risks.

Rangers in Cairngorms National Park are actively searching for a group of feral pigs believed to have been unlawfully released in the park. The animals were sighted near the Uath Lochans area, close to the village of Inch, just five miles from where four Eurasian lynx were illegally abandoned last month.

The sighting of the pigs has intensified worries over rogue individuals carrying out rewilding initiatives without official sanction. Cairngorms National Park Authority confirmed that efforts were underway to capture the pigs, which appear relatively tame. The authority strongly condemned the illegal release of animals in the park, describing it as an irresponsible act with potential long-term consequences.

This discovery follows the distressing case of four Eurasian lynx, which were humanely captured by experts in early January after being left in the harsh conditions near Kingussie, where temperatures plummeted to as low as -14°C. While one of the lynx died from the stress, the others are now in quarantine at Edinburgh Zoo.

Feral pigs are believed to be an invasive species in Scotland. Wild boars were once native to the region but were driven to extinction around 700 years ago. In recent years, populations of free-roaming pigs, both wild and domestic hybrids, have established themselves in parts of the Highlands and Dumfries and Galloway. These animals are known to cause significant damage to farmland, wildlife, and fencing, as they root through fields and destroy crops such as barley and oats.

Locals, particularly crofters, have expressed outrage over the illegal release of these pigs, stressing the serious threat they pose to agricultural land. The Cairngorms Crofters and Farmers Community have also raised concerns over the potential long-term impact on farming in the area, citing the damage caused by the pigs’ digging and escape attempts.

Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), which advocates for rural businesses, also condemned the release and called on the public to report any relevant information to the authorities. Forestry and Land Scotland’s Tom Cameron stated that their staff are working diligently to locate the herd and plan to use corral traps to capture the pigs for their own welfare and to prevent potential diseases from spreading to local livestock.

In a broader context, conservationists involved in a potential lynx reintroduction project have warned that illegal releases of animals undermine efforts to manage wildlife populations responsibly. Despite ongoing discussions on the topic, the Scottish government has ruled out the legal reintroduction of lynx, while conservationists continue to push for a carefully managed programme.