An investigation of a possible sighting of a lynx in Galloway is set to be closed after no evidence was found of its presence in the area.
The probe was sparked by a member of the public reporting seeing one in woodland near Newton Stewart last month.
NatureScot put trail cameras in place but it has only found evidence of roe deer, badgers and foxes but no sign of a lynx.
It said that given it could not rule out “misidentification” it would end its investigation shortly.
The incident in Galloway came after a number of lynx were illegally released in the Cairngorms.
They were ultimately all traced – although one of them died after capture – and are now looking for new homes.
However, NatureScot has been unable to find any trace of the wild cat in south-west Scotland.
It has had trail cameras in place for the past fortnight but said that “given the lack of further evidence” it would be ending its investigation shortly.
It stressed that it could reopen it if there was any fresh evidence to come to light in future.
Lynx were once a native species in Scotland, but they died out several hundred years ago.
There are suspicions the Cairngorms lynx were abandoned pets, or were let go by people who want to see the animals reinstated to wooded hills and glens.
However, First Minister John Swinney has ruled out the legal reintroduction of lynx into the wild in Scotland.
