In Britain, there have also been illicit reintroductions of smaller mammals, as well as insects and wildflowers that are much easier and cheaper to obtain, transport and release. Wildflower seeds and butterfly pupae or eggs can be easily bought online and delivered to your door, then let loose during a nice country walk.

Lynx wildcats found in Scotland amid push to reintroduce them into Highland forests. Was it guerrilla rewilding or a bid to stop environmentalist's plans?

Police in Scotland said two lynx cats have been spotted on the loose in an area where two other felines of the species were rounded up one day earlier.