Wild Mammals

Wild Boar: Welfare in Reintroduced Populations

Wild boar populations in the UK are growing from escaped individuals and deliberate reintroductions, raising management and welfare considerations.

Key Facts

Wild boar have been breeding in the Forest of Dean since the 1990s
UK populations are estimated at over 2000 individuals and growing
Boar are highly intelligent and have complex social structures centred on matrilineal groups
Culling is the current primary population management approach
Boar can cause significant crop damage and pose risks to walkers and dogs

Welfare Considerations

Wild boar have rich social lives and strong cognitive abilities that make their welfare particularly significant. Hunting and culling disrupt social groups and can separate dependent young from sows. Wounded boar that escape face prolonged suffering. Fencing and exclusion cause frustration and stress in wide-ranging animals. The welfare of wild boar requires consideration alongside their conservation and management as a native species returning to its historical range.

What You Can Do

Support coexistence management approaches that minimise lethal control
Advocate for trained and regulated culls rather than unregulated shooting
Back research into non-lethal wild boar population management
Keep dogs on leads in areas where wild boar are present
Support wild boar as a legitimate part of the UK fauna