Wild boar are one of Europe most widespread large mammals, occupying diverse habitats across the continent. Their welfare is shaped by both natural factors and increasing conflict with human agriculture and hunting pressure.
European wild boar welfare involves both the chronic welfare of boar living within managed hunting landscapes and the acute welfare of individual animals during hunting. High hunting pressure, habitat fragmentation, disease risk and illegal poisoning all affect individual boar welfare. Welfare-positive hunting requires species-appropriate methods, prohibition on inhumane trapping, and wildlife management that considers social structure disruption. Shooting lactating sows leaves dependent piglets to starve — welfare considerations of hunting should include this impact.