the case of
The People versus the Wild Boar.
The return of the wild boar raises some interesting economic and social issues. A persons opinion of wild boar will no doubt be influenced by their own interests and circumstances. Listed below are arguments against and answers for the species' accidental re-introduction. They are deliberately provocative and aim to provide food for thought. Please look at the arguments and cast your vote in the box at the foot of this page. Thank-you.
Origin of escapees - wild boar farms:Wild boar farming should be banned or more strictly regulated as the farmers irresponsibility let the animals loose in the first place in, I might add, contravention of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
A typical fence in a wild boar farm. Note the use of an electric wire to keep the boar in. If the wire shorts out, as it can do when the boar roots soil up against it, will this fence hold a boar wanting to escape?
.....and if you think this fence looks a bit flimsy, you should see some of the others! (© Martin Goulding).
Wild boar farming is a viable enterprise offering local employment and providing a desirable
commodity. Diversity in farming is essential in these troubled agricultural times and wild boar
farmers should be given all the help they need.
Numbers: I don't believe any of this! How many wild boar are there actually free-living in Britain?
No-one knows for sure because wild boar are very secretive, shy and nocturnal. They spend the day hidden in thick undergrowth so are particularly difficult to count. Estimates from observations at bait stations, radio-tracking projects and personal correspondance suggest the Kent/East Sussex population is over 100 animals, the Dorset population between 30 and 100 animals and the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire population between 50 and 100. The important point is that wild boar have no natural predators and numbers are increasing, although many animals are being shot.Conservation: Wild boar have been extinct from this country for 300 years. They are an invasive species and should be eradicated before their numbers increase.
The Government, under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, is obliged to consider the re-introduction of native species to enhance biodiversity. Wild boar are a re-introduction and have increased the countries biodiversity. Therefore they should be protected by law.Ecology: Wild boar are detrimental to woodland ecology as they root up bluebells and other plants.
Wild boar are beneficial to woodland ecology. They increase floral diversity because their rooting improves soil fertility and provides a seed bed in which annual plants can germinate.
This woodland ride in East Sussex looks a right mess in winter, but come summer these rooted areas will sport a variety of flowering plants where once was just a monoculture of grass. Along with these flowers comes a whole host of insects and so-on up the food chain - i.e. local biodiversity increases because of the boar.
(© Martin Goulding).
Hunting: Wild boar should be hunted. If hunting in England is properly organised and regulated, this could generate considerable revenue for local communities from the sale of meat and hunting fees. Plus, hunters are one of the wild boar's best friends as they preserve local populations when other interests (e.g. agricultural) would cull them right down. Furthermore, as a game species they are afforded special status (e.g. closed seasons).
This boar was shot dead whilst rooting in a cereal field in Kent
(© Martin Goulding).
Wild boar should not be hunted because hunting is a cruel and barbaric sport. It should be illegal. On the continent dogs are frequently employed to chase the boar; a bill to ban hunting with dogs is currently before the Lords in this country. Pregnant and lactating sows have already been shot in southern England, this is barbaric. To generate local income, why not eco-tourism?
Wild boar hunting and eco-tourism can co-exist. If the free-living wild boar increase, they will have to be culled, just as deer populations currently are. Better the culling be done in a controlled and regulated manner, rather than as a free-for-all.Agriculture: 1.) Wild boar can cause considerable damage to agricultural crops on the continent. There is no compensation scheme available to UK. farmers, unlike in France where farmers are compensated for wild boar damage. Wild boar should be classed as an agricultural pest and eradicated.
The agricultural damage caused by wild boar in the UK. is minute compared to the damage from badgers, foxes, woodpigeons, rabbits, deer, etc. It is immoral to eradicate an animal just because it doesn't fit in with our way of farming.
2.) Wild boar kill livestock, particularly new borne lambs.
Badgers and foxes are the main predators of lambs, plus more sheep and lambs are lost through domestic dog attacks than from wild boar. Wild boar only scavenge dead or dying animals.
3.) Wild boar damage and break down my fencing
Erect stronger fencing and maintain it
One farmers attempts to keep wild boar off his land. The fence is being dug down to prevent the boar from rooting underneath. A good idea but the fence was not high enough in the first place - the boar just jumped over it! (© Martin Goulding).
Public safety: 1.) Wild boar are a danger to the public walking through the woods
Wild boar are shy and retiring and run away if disturbed. The continentals happily walk, ride and play in their woodlands, why shouldn't we.
2.) Wild boar sows with young piglets are particularly dangerous
As with all female animals when they have their young with them, leave them alone. The protective maternal instinct in all animals is very strong.
3.) Wild boar are a danger to my dog when I am walking through the woods.
Keep your dog under control. If it is untrained and won't come to your call, then it shouldn't be in the woods in the first place.
4.) Wild boar are a Road Traffic Hazard and I would not want to crash into one.
Wild boar, like deer, dogs and other road users are a traffic hazard. Drive as you always should, below the speed limit with your eyes on the road at all times, and you will be alright.
Animal health: Wild boar carry disease e.g. Foot and Mouth and Swine Fever. They are a threat to the health of the National Cattle and Pig stocks. They should be eradicated before there is another outbreak with disastrous economic consequences to an industry already on it's knees.
It is immoral to wipe out a species because it can transmit disease - all wild animals carry one form of disease or another. Look at the trouble with the Krebs trial over badgers and TB. The domestic pig industry needs to get it's own house in order before wiping out any wildlife.
This is what gives the British governments' vets sleepless nights. Free-ranged domestic pigs are kept in place by single strands of electric fence. This is no deterrent to a free-living wild boar who can scent a pig in heat from miles away. The wild boar will jump or break through the fence, mate with the domestic pig sows and kill or injure the domestic pig boar. More worryingly, any disease in the unit could be passed to the wild boar who will then infect other free-living boar. This makes the disease nearly impossible to eradicate because the wild boar become a resevoir for the disease, continually infecting other domestic pigs from their 'romantic' visits. Particularly economically nasty diseases are Foot-and-Mouth disease and Classical Swine fever
A transmission route for the spread of disease between cows and boar is already in place, shown by the close proximity of these two animals here.
(source of photo unknown - if it is yours please advise on the legality of us using it, many thanks.)
Are you for or against the wild boar? It is time for the jury to retire.