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Wild
Boar
Wild
Boar are native to the British Isles. It's believed they
were hunted to extinction in the Middle Ages. In the 17th
Century, some were brought from Europe and released for
hunting. Today we have a population that look and act a lot
like their wild ancestors, and thanks to more recent escapes, a
few dozen now exist within pockets in the South East of
England and Dartmoor.
Wild
Boar 129
But
in the Forest of Dean, boar have roamed for the longest time. Many
people here have seen them for at least 50 years. These boar
are very much true to type, or a mixture of east and west
European wild boar. Above photo is of a rather black boar,
typical of eastern Europe. Taken May 2009.
Wild
Boar 128 slight crop
She had piglets and I stalked her to with 6 metres. I
wasn't getting the shot I wanted due to vegetation in the way
and eventually stood up to say hello. This was her look
just before running off. I felt totally happy she would
not attack.
Wild
Boar 127 crop
Wild
Boar 119
Above
2 images taken February 2009. The piglets were very early
this year and had to endure several days of cold snowy wintery
weather. Top image is of a mum with a month old
piglet. Lower image is of another mum who I recognize
from 2008. She was an assistant mother then, part of a
sounder. I think she recognizes me? Note the raised
tail, showing me her anxiety. I'm sure she could smell my
dogs who were out of sight.
Wild
Boar 117
This
sow is about as large as they get here, probably a metre high
and weighing about 60kg.
Sightings
at dawn or just later, on tracks like this is the usual way
people see them.
Wild
Boar 126b
Just
in case you think it's easy to see them, let alone photograph
them, here's a typical view when not on a
track. Can you see them? Two mums and 7 piglets.
I believe they are almost
pure wild boar, and perhaps the reason why some farmers have
released them here (true wild boar are notoriously hard to
keep). Boar are
usually very shy, elusive and pose no threat to people unless
provoked (usually by their dog). Some believe
they have been chased by the boar, but the truth is Wild Boar are short sighted and will
"trot" closer for an inspection of you, often with a grunt, before
galloping off. This
can be misinterpreted as aggression. One lady once told me
she had to run for her life, the boar was the size of a
pony! Mmm, just happens to be when the local press showed
a front page image of a giant boar from the US. Below are 2 boar that
came trotting close up to me for a better look in 2008.
They are within 10m of me and stand 30cm and 80cm tall respectively (scary beasts
eh?).
Wild
Boar
97b
Wild Boar 108
Ever
since an unfortunate boar was seen near a school in Ruardean;
minding its own business quietly foraging in the adjoining
woods; was shot by the
Forestry Commission with all the publicity and propaganda these
animal killers could muster, the boar have become obsessive
targets by a few rogue rangers here. Despite official
press releases claiming the boar are not being killed (then
changed to say only "problem" boar are killed), many
of us here know this to be an outright lie. Several of the
low intellect rangers persist in making
it their mission to prove themselves big men and women (yes,
women rangers kill wild animals too) among their peers.
The "problem" issue is subjective, and some presumably
see
"life" as a problem here. This to me is
poaching, undertaken by conceited and insecure Forestry
Commission rangers operating outside of their orders and they
must be stopped. This happens with the deer as well.
I hope to photograph them in the act....and hope the good
rangers (of which I think there are several also) bring this
issue to some justice. I have talked to many folk now, and the
image of the FC is very poor here in the Forest of Dean at the
moment.
Wild
Boar 101
A piglet nearly 4 months old, and playing hide & seek.
Adorable!
Wild
Boar 112
And here's mum keeping an eye on me.
Photo: June 2008.
As
a result, the boar population has crashed in the last
year. The outright over-exaggerated lie of an
"estimate" at 150-200 boar is ridiculous. If 10%
of this number exist as adults, I will be surprised.
Yet despite their persecution by the few ignorant people who
know nothing about ecology nor forest management; the remaining
boar remain placid towards well meaning humans and also
dogs. If your dog runs wild, scenting the boar down,
then expect you and your dog to come under attack if piglets are
about. Deer attack with horns, badgers with claws, birds
with beaks, but boar have teeth. Respect them and
they will do no harm to you.
Wild
Boar 61 and dog
My
dog Sally meeting the gentle creatures of the Forest of Dean.
This is a male boar.
Yet
the Forestry Commission are puppets to Defra (the Government's
own environmental corporate lobbyists), and sadly seem to bow
down to their dark masters all to readily, supporting what can
only be a concerted Defra campaign of lies and spin directed at
the media to give the pubic that oft-used "terrorist"
insecurity scam story (although I'm expecting an invented
"disease" scam soon - the signs are here already -
so get ready for martial law folks! -prediction made in March
2009, for the record). My experience, alongside those of
friends who have also been up close to the wild boar, tell a
different story to that in the media
(see example).
Wild
Boar warning 01
Compare
the viciously tusked propaganda cartoon, hackles up, head down and ready to
charge, with the real thing.
So
good luck to all those piglets out there. Once again,
human ignorance and paranoia, fuelled by a corrupt press, want
them dead. Humans can't address the real problems they
themselves cause to the environment (acid rain, water shortages,
radioactive waste emissions, polluted rivers etc) so must occupy
their sad and fearful minds with the killing of innocent
animals.
"For as long as
men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he
who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and
love."
Pythagoras c550BC
Wild
Boar 52 sow and piglets
Wild
Boar 40 sow and piglets
Wild
Boar 32 sow and piglets
Wild
Boar 55 at nest
Wild
Boar 21
Wild
Boar 42
This girl is keeping on eye on my two dogs, who are next to me
here, and only 10m from the boar. On many occasions the
boar have come up to my dogs to have a sniff. My dogs
don't panic, so neither do the boar. In fact, every single
photo on this page was taken with my dogs at my side!
Wild
Boar 66
Each boar seems to have their own unique
characters.....
All photographs of wild boar taken in the Forest of Dean, UK.
2007-9.
At the moment these guys are a much needed and much loved
presence in the forest!
Wild
Boar 10 crop
This
one just stared all the time, and even on one occasion, walked
side by side of us back to our cars! We didn't smell of
blood and fear, so she knew she had some friends.
Wild
Boar damage 03
Chris
Grady surveying Wild Boar "damage"
in the
Forest of Dean (2007). It is this damage the Forestry Commission
once cited as a problem and under scrutiny. This
particular damage has now all settled back and reseeded (2009).
The worst damage is now caused by rangers driving 4x4s around
woodland paths and open grass areas, searching down the boar to
shoot. The hypocrisy stinks folks!
Could
I still urge people to keep sightings of wild boar to themselves. Do not submit sightings to the authorities as I
now know they use the information to slaughter rather than
help the boar to free and useful lives. Please don't help to
turn the Forest of Dean into a game park. Time will
tell if they are a problem, and so far they are definitely not a
problem in the slightest.
Wild
Boar piglets 02 crop
Wild
Boar 63 with old lady
Be
careful Boris, humans can be ferocious !
British
Wild Boar: A good website with lots of info.
back
to British Mammals Gallery
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