Wild boar populations have expanded dramatically across Europe, creating human-wildlife conflicts and raising welfare questions about culling methods, population management, and disease control.
Wild boar welfare is shaped by the intersection of agricultural interests, conservation, and disease management. Highly stressed boar in areas of intense hunting pressure show abnormal behaviour and altered movement patterns. Culling methods that wound animals without immediate kills cause significant suffering. Disease management for African Swine Fever sometimes involves mass killing methods with variable humaneness. Family group disruption through culling can impair calf survival and maternal welfare. Some jurisdictions are developing population management strategies that balance agricultural protection with welfare-conscious culling methods.