Feral pigs found in Scottish Highlands after suspected illegal release

Feral pigs found in Scottish Highlands after suspected illegal release

The wild boar were spotted in the same area where lynx were illegally released last month.

Published: February 12, 2025 at 9:28 am

A drove of feral pigs has been found roaming woodlands near Uath Lochans in the Cairngorms National Park, following what’s believed to be an illegal release.

The wild boar were seen roughly five miles from the spot where four lynx were illegally released in the national park last month.

Park authorities are now working to trap the animals and figure out how they got there.

A wild boar deep within a forest
Wild boar play a role in shaping their environment by rooting up soil while foraging. This can benefit ecosystems by promoting plant diversity, but it can also cause damage to farmland, gardens and public spaces. Credit: Getty

"We are aware that feral pigs have been spotted in an area of the Cairngorms National Park near Uath Lochans," said a Cairngorms National Park spokesman on social media.

"The Park Authority is working closely with partners – including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland – to ascertain the full facts on the ground and Forestry and Land Scotland is currently attempting to trap the animals.

"The animals appear to be relatively domesticated and it is likely that this is an illegal release.

"The Park Authority condemns any illegal release of animals in the strongest possible terms."

Wild boar used to roam Scotland but were wiped out in the 13th century due to hunting and habitat loss.

While some have escaped from farms over the years, this latest release has sparked fresh concerns over their impact on the environment and local farming.

Wild boar
Wild boar were native to the UK but went extinct around the 13th century due to overhunting. Credit: Getty

Main image: wild boar in UK forest/Getty

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