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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