A SCOTTISH Government agency has issued an update regarding the possible sighting of a lynx in Galloway.
Last month an investigation was launched following a report from a member of the public spotting a lynx in a woodland near Newton Stewart.
According to the BBC, NatureScot set out trail cameras in the area in an attempt to find the animal but have only found evidence of roe deer, badgers, and foxes.
The Scottish Government agency responsible for the country’s natural heritage, NatureScot told the broadcaster it could not rule out “misidentification” and that it would end its investigation shortly.
The incident in Galloway came after four lynx were illegally released into the Highlands in January, in two separate incidents.
The big cats were captured by staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), before being relocated to Edinburgh Zoo with the hopes of finding them a new home.
One of the lynx died just days after arriving in Edinburgh.
Following those releases, First Minister John Swinney ruled out the Scottish Government's support for the legal release of lynx or other large carnivores in Scotland.
