Now they have been captured, the animals – which the RZSS has named the Killiehuntly Two – are being cared for in quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, where their health and welfare will be assessed.

Working alongside Police Scotland, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland worked through the night to humanely capture the cats, using live trail cameras near baited traps

Two wild cats at large following a ‘suspected illegal release’

Two illegally released lynx ‘humanely’ captured in Scottish Highlands - The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said it had successfully captured the two creatures.

Police are investigating the release of two lynx in the Highlands and have urged the public not to approach the wild cats. The alarm was raised at about 16:20 when they were spotted in the Drumguish area, near to Kingussie. Specially trained staff from the Highland Wildlife Park are assisting officers to trace the animals.

A pair of lynx released in the Scottish Highlands in a "highly irresponsible act" have been captured and transferred to a zoo. Working with Police Scotland, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) safely trapped the big cats using live cameras and baited traps.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) announced that the animals were at large within its grounds on Wednesday evening, saying it is suspected to be an 'illegal release'

The charity has condemned the illegal release as "highly irresponsible" and said it was likely the lynx would have died in the wild. It said the pair appear to be in good health and have been named 'The Killiehuntly Two'.