29/05/06
Many people who responded to a consultation on the status of
feral wild boar in England were in favour of some form of active
management for the animals.
The consultation on Feral Wild Boar in England closed on 6 January,
after attracting 248 responses from individuals and organisations
representing a wide range of interests.
Initial analysis of responses indicates almost 80% of respondents
believe there should be some form of active management of feral
boar populations, with 43.9% of people supporting eradication,
with another 30.7% supporting management options short of eradication
including regional control and preventing the establishment of
new populations. 56.1% of respondents did not want feral populations
eradicated.
The responses will help inform Defra’s future policy on
wild boar, to be announced later this year.
People were asked to give their views on a range of issues surrounding
feral wild boar, including disease risk, potential for damage
to crops and property, effects on animal exports, animal welfare,
conservation and biodiversity, game and shooting interests, and
human safety.
The main population of wild boar in England is in Kent and Sussex,
while smaller breeding populations have been established in Dorset
and Herefordshire.
Notes
1. Wild boar are a former native species which became extinct
in England over 300 years ago. Several small populations have
become established in England following escapes from captivity.
2. Wild boar can affect a large number of sectors by causing
direct agricultural damage to a range of crops, conservation
sites, sports fields and gardens as well as posing a risk of
transmitting diseases to livestock. Particularly of concern are
Classical Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth disease and bovine Tuberculosis.
3. Wild boar can also affect on human safety, mainly by causing
road traffic collisions or even attacks.
4. Their impact on conservation habitats is likely to be mixed,
probably beneficial in woodland but negative on species like
ground-nesting birds.
5. Defra have been monitoring the feral populations and conducting
associated research since 1996.
6. The consultation took place between 2 September 2005 and
6 January 2006.
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