RZSSA lynx captured in the Cairngorms National Park on Friday has died overnight, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has confirmed.
The wild cat was one of four, released illegally, which were caught near Kingussie in the Highlands in recent days.
The animals were humanely captured in pairs in the Dell of Killiehuntly area and taken to the Highland Wildlife Park.
The RZSS said they would have been under great stress after being abandoned in a new and “extremely harsh” environment.
The first pair, which were captured on Thursday after an alert was issued on Wednesday, have been moved to Edinburgh Zoo where they will quarantine for 30 days.
They will be joined by the surviving lynx from the pair captured on Friday, almost 12 hours after they were first spotted.
Some conservation groups have been campaigning to have the wild cats reintroduced to Scotland.
But farming communities have voiced concern about the potential impact on livestock.
Dr Helen Senn, head of conservation at the RZSS, said: “Unfortunately overnight we’ve had the news that one of the lynx didn’t make it. It was found dead this morning.”
The cause of death is currently unknown.
She added that a full post-mortem examination would be carried out but the results would not be known for a few days.
Dr Senn said: “Whatever the case, this unfortunate development just serves to further demonstrate the folly of abandoning these amazing animals in the wild, with no preparation or real concern for their welfare.
“We can only imagine the stress that all four of the recovered lynx must have experienced after being thrust into an entirely new and extremely harsh environment to fend for themselves.
“Our team of expert keepers and veterinarians will now ensure that they get the best possible care moving forward.”
Temperatures in the area had plunged to as low as -14C, Dr Senn added.
Typically the average low in northern Scotland for this time of year is about 0.3C.
The society said it is “reasonably confident” there are no other lynx on the loose in the area.
David Field, chief executive of RZSS, said there were two possible explanations for the illegal releases.
He told Radio 4’s Today programme: “Sadly there are rogue rewilders out there who bypass all the established international best practice and bypass all professional organisations which are discussing lynx coming back to Scotland.
“They are impatient and then proceed in a way which is this rebellious rogue rewilding.
“That’s really sad and that’s a real, real risk.”
Mr Field added it could also simply be the abandonment of animals which someone no longer wished to look after.
Getty ImagesThe RZSS said the captured lynx were tame and were used to humans.
Lynx, which are roughly the size of a Labrador, are usually shy and solitary creatures and attacks on humans are virtually unheard of.
Police Scotland said inquiries into how the wild cats ended up in the area are continuing.
A force spokesperson added officers and wildlife experts would continue to examine the area where the animals were found.
