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Two lynx cats have been recaptured following a “suspected illegal release”.

The Lynx were “humanly” trapped overnight in the Scottish Highlands by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), working with Police Scotland.

The wildcats are in now being held in quarantine before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo.

Releasing the cats into the wild was called “highly irresponsible” by the RZSS.

Meanwhile, inquiries continue to discover where the wildcats came from, and who set them free.

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, but they put the animals’ lives at risk.”

Before the wildcats were captured, a Cairngorms National Authority spokesperson said:

“We condemn the illegal release of wild animals in the strongest possible terms and we are also concerned for the welfare of the lynx.”

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.”

The force said specially trained staff from Highland Wildlife Park had been deployed to assist officers in tracking the animals.

Recently, there have been calls for lynx to be returned to the Scottish countryside.

Supporters of a re-wilding campaign cite the wildcats would help control rising numbers of roe deer.