Eight pigs were released illegally; after capture, they were humanely culled due to ecological risks.
Then, Forestry and Land Scotland did something. They said they had to “cull” all the pigs in a humane way. FLS called the pigs a non-native species.
Someone released the pigs illegally, without considering the harm. The pigs could hurt habitats and other animals. Feral pigs can cause problems in Scotland, and official rules say to control their numbers.
FLS captured and moved the pigs, speaking with vets and the police. After that, they humanely culled the animals. A gamekeeping group wants action about this, not wanting “guerrilla rewilding” to become normal.
The Scottish Gamekeepers Association is not happy, calling the pig release selfish and careless. It risked animal welfare, livestock, and people. This happened after lynx were released last month, illegally.
The SGA thinks this is “guerrilla rewilding,” where people are impatient with official processes. Rewilding means bringing back native species, and people seem to want faster action.
The SGA mentioned a need for negotiation, referring to talking with those most impacted. These are farmers and local communities who must live with the changes daily.
The SGA wants authorities to be firm to stop more illegal rewilding. The Scottish government might have encouraged this because no action was taken after illegal beaver releases back in 2001.
The government protected those beavers instead, setting a precedent combined with a trial in 2009. The SGA does not know if the pig and lynx releases are connected, but it is still a possibility.
The park authority is very against this illegal release, calling it unacceptable in the strongest terms. Scottish Land and Estates also condemned the pig release, calling it reckless and irresponsible.
The Scottish government made a statement saying illegal animal releases are a serious risk. It affects welfare, farmers, and communities. Scotland will not reintroduce large carnivores.