After 300 years, wild boar come to the rescue of woodlands

[emad]

After 300 years, wild boar come to the rescue of woodlands
By Paul Kelbie, Scotland Correspondent
Published: 30 August 2005

Eight sows, 40 young and a boar called Boris are to be introduced to the Highlands as a "ground disturbance force" more than 300 years after they were hunted to extinction in Scotland.

Once a common sight in the natural woodlands of Scotland, the wild boar are to be returned as part of a tree conservation scheme.

The boars have been farm-reared and are not aggressive to humans.

Two large enclosures have been set aside in Glen Affric near Inverness to allow animals to roam freely in an attempt to restore part of the ancient Caledonian pine forest.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/article308957.ece

[mr blur]

1. Watch out for the Tories

to plan to introduce wild boar hunting in their future bid for power.

[Greeby]

2. Wild boar hunting? Say hello to the new Tory mascots

[Nihil]

3. They said this bit with a straight face ...?

> The boars have been farm-reared and are not aggressive to humans.

Yeah, right.

Farm-reared pigs (standard sausage, bacon & gammon porkers) can be
pretty sodding aggressive to humans and they don't have a fraction
of the wild instincts that real boars have retained.

I'm all in favour of returning the boars (both for the benefit to
the land and for the benefit to nature itself) but please don't lull
people into a false sense of security ... those bristly f*ckers can
be *vicious* when they have been disturbed!

[Kipling]

4. There are already wild boars in England.

I've never heard of any deaths.

[Nihil]

5. Precisely

No deaths but several tales of scary encounters, sudden realisations
and hasty retreats.

I have no problem with boars being brought back, just with the use
of "farm bred = tame".