Cairngorms lynx

And presumably why lynx are also nocturnal?

That’s the thing; are these animals wild enough to survive without the support that a formal programme might have provided?

Seems that was both the big concern of those seeking to capture them and the reason they were easy to capture – seems they were not habituated to hunting and so a big fat sausage* on a stick (sorry perchy, they clearly nicked yours) in a cage seems to have worked….
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*pure speculation.

*pure speculation.

Can confirm. Sausage is fat.

BBC news has various quotes from the formal reintroduction programme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6z61ylj40o

There’s footage in crazy legs link just prior to capture, and one of the Lynx is wandering around within a very short distance of multiple people. Suggests animals used to captivity?

The folk who want to reintroduce lynx to Scotland are dreamers with no idea of even which direction reality is imo.  Had some discussions with them a few years ago and this was so obvious.

I do not see this ever happening.   The habitat lynx need is both rare and fragmented

The folk who want to reintroduce lynx to Scotland are dreamers with no idea of even which direction reality is imo.

Which people? There are several distinct groups. One group who flits around reintroduction schemes throughout the UK irritating the professionals in each area and then the well regarded groups such as the ones quoted in the article.

The habitat lynx need is both rare and fragmented

Its not. There is plenty of suitable habitat for a small population which would likely bring massive benefits in controlling and disturbing deer. Sadly the subsidy crowd are doing their best to prevent it though.

“Well, lynx are supposed to eat beaver ? and they are the main predator.  They represent one of the main reasons that beaver are both nocturnal and quite shy”.

I see what you did there . Fnaar  Fnaar More childish giggles.

There’s footage in crazy legs link just prior to capture, and one of the Lynx is wandering around within a very short distance of multiple people. Suggests animals used to captivity?

Yeah and without details, we don’t know if they were released some time ago and have approached houses now because of hunger/cold or if they’ve been released only recently. If the latter then it hardly looks like a “serious” attempt at re-wilding. A 20 minute drive from Drumguish would get to the Uath Lochans area where they might go un-noticed for weeks/months

I’m confused as to why anyone would release them during winter, let alone a particularly cold spell. Surely they’ve been out for some time and have come looking for food

How long can lynx go without food before becoming seriously weak, especially in cold weather?

I wouldn’t expect it to be much longer than 3 or 4 days. I can’t imagine that they have been in the wild for very long.

The fact that naturally very shy animals were apparently so easily caught suggests that they had no survival skills at all, so I can’t imagine that they had been living successfully on their own for months or even weeks.

How long can lynx go without food before becoming seriously weak, especially in cold weather?

A quick Google seems to suggest they eat between 1.2 and 2.7kg of meat a day. After a big meal fasting is possible for a few days.

I’ve got a couple of feral cats living near me, occasionally they come looking for food, but even then they run as soon as you open the door and hide. You’ll never get near them

I don’t know if lynx are susceptible to hepatic lipidosis which is unique to cats, I can’t see why they wouldn’t be, but in a domestic cat it can be triggered by just 2-7 days of not eating.

Well I had to look that up but from what I’ve read it would suggest my feral cats are getting food regularly. They certainly aren’t very scrawny

Those lynxes looked reasonably healthy but I can’t say I’ve seen many.

I did see a black panther in Dumfries once though. Magnificent looking beast

I’m currently freezing my tits off in a layby on the A9 wearing only a furry bikini in the hope that someone tries to entice me into a van with a sausage supper.
You have to take your chances when you get them.

Oh, do you have any links?
Not anymore. I had two until yesterday…

Got to love this place!