Home
News
630 views
Dutch renew discussion on wild boar shooting
The massive shooting of wild boars is not the right
solution to solve the problems related to overpopulation in the Dutch nature
area of the Veluwe, a biologist claims.
According to Marcel Vossestein, biologist, the number of pigs will increase
rapidly due to the shooting – instead of decrease. He says, "Almost all wild
boar populations have become unstable. Survival possibilities have been existing
for decades and all of a sudden man endeavours to reduce the population to half
its size."
Last year, the number of wild boars in the area in the heart
of the Netherlands, was said to have increased rapidly, causing excessive
nuisance for traffic and residents. After a severe debate, even in Parliament, a
decision was made to reduce the number of wild boars to 860 by
shooting.
Fertility
Nature does not permit that as sow
fertility has increased, Vossestein now says. "A wild boar was reported to have
2.2 piglets in the nineties. This year we can see it has moved up to 4.4 and in
the National Park De Hoge Veluwe it moved up to 5.7."
He says in his
view, a number of 3,000 wild boars would be ideal. In addition, the shooting of
wild boars should happen in the rims of the forest, he says. "The wild boars
should experience the heart of the forests as safe havens."
Click here for the free
Pig Progress newsletter
Editor PigProgress
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.