Two additional lynx are reported to be at large in the Scottish Highlands,in the same area where a pair of the wildcats were captured earlier this week.According to Police Scotland,a new report was received on Friday morning of two more lynx being recorded on a wildlife camera in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie,within Cairngorms National Park.

Authorities believe this sighting is connected to the illegal release of two lynx that were apprehended on Thursday.The public is being urged not to approach the animals and to avoid the area while specially trained teams work to locate and secure them.

David Field,Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland(RZSS),stated:"Two more lynx have been sighted in the same Cairngorms location where we successfully captured a pair yesterday.Additional traps are being baited in the area,and we hope these animals will be safely and humanely captured before being transported to Edinburgh Zoo to join the two captured yesterday in quarantine.RZSS condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal release of wild animals and urges anyone with information about the release of these lynx to contact Police Scotland on 101."

Police Scotland confirmed that inquiries are ongoing to"establish the full circumstances of both sightings."Inspector Craig Johnstone added:"Although it may be tempting to try to find them,take pictures,or set up cameras,we are asking people not to travel into the area,especially in the current winter weather conditions.Please be mindful,act responsibly,and allow the animal experts to carry out their work."

Following the capture of the two lynx on Thursday,First Minister John Swinney described the incident as something that"should not have happened"and an"illegal act."

Tim Bonner,Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance,commented:"There may well be a case for reintroducing lynx to Scotland,but that must be done properly.It is illegal and utterly arrogant to release predators into the countryside without proper consideration of their impact on domestic animals and vulnerable wildlife,without the consent of the local community,and without any process to monitor their impact.Those responsible should be prosecuted and punished in exactly the same way as any other wildlife criminal."