Wildlife

Wild Boar Management in the UK

Wild boar have returned to parts of the UK and their management raises complex welfare and ecological questions.

Key Facts

Around 2,500 wild boar are estimated to live in the UK, mainly in the Forest of Dean
They provide ecological benefits through rooting and seed dispersal
Wild boar are intelligent, social animals whose welfare is affected by culling and disturbance
Road accidents involving wild boar are increasing as populations expand
Management through culling raises welfare concerns about wounding and orphaning of dependent piglets

Welfare Considerations

Wild boar welfare requires humane management approaches that minimise suffering during culling, avoid orphaning young animals, and protect key populations while managing human-wildlife conflict.

What You Can Do

Support humane wild boar management approaches with minimal wounding risk
Advocate for management plans that address welfare alongside population control
Engage with the ecological value of wild boar and the complexity of management decisions
Slow down on roads in areas with known wild boar populations
Support research into wild boar ecology and behaviour to inform evidence-based management