Public Consultation on Wild Boar Announced

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Public Consultation on Wild Boar Announced

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Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 05 8:39 am Post subject: Public Consultation on Wild Boar Announced

Friday 2 September 2005 09:14
Department for The Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (National)

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON WILD BOAR ANNOUNCED

People affected by, or interested in, wild boar are being encouraged to have their say about how the animals should be managed in England, Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight announced today.

Mr Knight said that a review of the way wild boar were managed and monitored was necessary due to the recent establishment of small but significant populations that are expected to grow.

"For the first time since becoming extinct in Britain 300 years ago, wild boar have established several small populations in England, which has implications for farming, woodlands and parklands, wildlife, and the wider countryside and rural economy," he said.

Mr Knight said people were being 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.

"From Defra's own research and monitoring, we know that poor wild boar management poses potential problems for agriculture, animal health and welfare, and for other wildlife."

"It is important that we hear a broad range of views on all the issues involved to inform future decisions on how we should manage wild boar in England."

There are thought to be fewer than 500 feral wild boar in England, with the main population in Kent and Sussex and smaller breeding populations in Dorset and Herefordshire.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

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 documents can be accessed from Monday (5 September) at https://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wild-boar/index.htm, or by phoning 01904 462062.

7. The consultation will run until 6 January, 2006.

Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website
https://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 05 11:57 am Post subject:
What's the law regarding hunting boar at the moment in the UK? Fabrice has just looked over my shoulder & read this posting and his only comment was that, "Les Anglais" breed them with domestic pigs doubling or even tripling the number in each litter. If the boar are not controlled, in ten years they could plough up England! HWH

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 05 12:04 pm Post subject:

hardworkinghippy wrote:

If the boar are not controlled, in ten years they could plough up England!

So if we give them a hand, as it were, could they do it in a year? Then we wouldn't need so many tractors.

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 05 12:18 pm Post subject:

I think the current law for wild boar probably goes along the lines:

"Ye chase of the wilde boare may not be undertaken by more than one knight carrying a crossbow of a size suitable to slay the beaste, accompanied by no more than 4 dogs of strong build and two men of foote."

in the absence of wild boar the law fell into disuse meaning that I think you currently have to get a licence from DEFRA.

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 05 4:41 pm Post subject:
Northern Lad, Shame they don't always plough where you want them to eh? If I wasn't so lazy, I'd go over to one of our fields and show you what I mean about digging - I'd be amazed if there's one surviving earthworm on that plot. Behemoth, Thanks for that - I couldn't find anything on the web. Shame the "Olde Worlde" law you misquoted wasn't real, then they'd never have become extinct. HWH