Page title

Consultation on feral wild boar in England

6 January 2005

Thank you for the opportunity for FAWC to comment on the management of feral wild boar populations in England.

The options for change seem to FAWC very broad – ranging from no action, through management on a regional basis, through to full eradication. This is a difficult situation to assess without knowing accurately the scale of the problem or the likely expansion in numbers. The documentation accompanying the consultation concedes that the implications of doing nothing are unclear but that wild boar are capable of rapid population increase and long distance dispersal. Hence, we are able to identify hazards but not necessarily the risk to commercial pig herds and other farm animals.

FAWC has always considered disease to be a major contributor to poor farm animal welfare. The assessment of risk associated with feral wild boar in terms of animals per square mile might seem a strange choice. One animal carrying a porcine disease would represent a significant health challenge to a domestic pig herd, particularly if kept outdoors. In the case of a disease like Foot and Mouth Disease there would be risk to other ungulates as well. Feral populations could nullify the effect of movement restrictions in domestic herds, or the requirement to register and certify movements of pet pigs. The risk of perpetuating endemic disease or making control of significant diseases including Classical Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease, Aujeszkys or TB must be real, with corresponding health and welfare effects.

In addition to the prospect of feral wild boar being vectors of disease there are other potential animal welfare challenges where these populations encounter domestic outdoor herds. These could include aggression and uncontrolled breeding with domestic animals. It does seem strange that an animal classified as a dangerous wild animal requiring special conditions for housing and management is being considered for reintroduction in the wild based on populations of escapee animals. The safety of people and other animals in the rural environment could also be a concern.

In terms of management of feral wild boar populations, FAWC recognises that full eradication may not be a realistic option, nor would it necessarily support this nationwide. Instead, Council would favour regional management to protect commercial pig populations, particularly where herds are kept outdoors, through culling or some method of confinement of the wild boar. The potential for feral populations to provide a reservoir for diseases affecting other species should also be taken into account. Wild cattle populations have been confined for many years and feral sheep that were found during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak were culled. Any cull should be carried out in a controlled manner with full regard to the welfare of the wild boar and using techniques and staff suited to the task. Regional management should be kept under review to determine success and the disease impact of allowing even small foci of feral animals.

FAWC expects there will be a lobby in support of feral populations, not least in view of proposals to re-introduce other animals, including wolves and bears, to Scotland. FAWC does not necessarily need to enter into conservation debates but would emphasise that feral wild boar populations pose a high animal health risk and that their presence could put outdoor pig herds at additional risk.

FAWC Secretariat