Repeated Appearances of Wild Boars in Urban Areas, Is There a Solution? [Kim Suwan's Animal Report]

Wild Boars Appear Repeatedly in Urban Areas... Residents Express Anxiety
Glass Damage and Crop Losses Reported
Experts Say "Problem Caused by Decreased Wildlife Habitats"

Recently, wild boars have been appearing one after another in the downtown area of Sejong City, causing residents to feel anxious. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Recently, wild boars have been increasingly appearing in urban areas in search of food ahead of winter, causing growing anxiety among citizens. At the same time, there are calls for protection, as their habitats have been taken away due to indiscriminate land development.

Experts say this problem has arisen due to the shrinking habitats of wild animals and suggest that measures should be established to enable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

On the 15th, in Sacheon City, Gyeongnam Province, a wild boar caused a commotion by entering a government building. The boar suddenly appeared at the Sacheon-eup Administrative Welfare Center, pushed open the door, rummaged through the office, and then fled.

Wild boars have also appeared several times in Sejong City. According to the Sejong Fire Headquarters on the 25th of last month, a herd of wild boars was found the previous afternoon in Jjongchon-dong Gajae Village complexes 8 and 9, and Dajeong-dong Gaon Village complex 6.

Responding to residents' reports, 22 personnel including the 119 rescue team and pest control unit captured one of the four wild boars, while another was killed after being hit by a passing vehicle.

Moreover, in Sejong, wild boars appeared again on the 12th, and from the 18th to 19th of last month in the areas of Areum-dong and Boram-dong, causing further disturbances. Fortunately, no human casualties occurred, but sightings of wild boars in various places have increased residents' anxiety.

The problem is that wild boars pose not only a threat to people but also cause damage to crops.

Various online communities and mom cafes have expressed concerns such as "Everyone, be careful of wild boars," "It's scarier because they travel in groups, not just one," and "Since they damage crops, countermeasures seem necessary."

Reports of wild boar dispatches are highest in October throughout the year, and dispatches from November to December account for about one-third of the annual total. Wild boars are known to be most active between autumn and early winter, which is their breeding season.

Wild boars are also causing damage to crops. This year, there have been 35 reported cases of crop damage caused by wild boars in Sejong City. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In particular, this year, the number of crop damage reports caused by wild boars in Sejong City has been recorded at 35. Wild boars are omnivores, with more than 90% of their diet consisting of plant-based foods such as fruits, seeds, roots, acorns, and tubers.

Additionally, the number of captured wild boars is increasing annually due to the absence of top predators. According to Sejong City, the number of wild boars captured in the area over the past three years was △167 in 2017 △185 in 2018 △382 in 2019, showing a yearly increase. This year, 242 have been caught as of the 20th, and the number is expected to rise further.

In Gangwon Province, an emergency has been declared in quarantine efforts after the discovery of wild boar carcasses infected with African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF is a severe hemorrhagic disease affecting pigs and wild boars, with a fatality rate of 100% and high transmissibility.

Consequently, environmental authorities are reducing the wild boar population early to prevent the spread of ASF through wild boars. This is because wild boars moving in the wild can act as vectors spreading ASF.

Experts suggest resolving the issue by finding ways for humans and wildlife to coexist.

Lee Wonbok, head of the Korea Animal Protection Union, commented on the appearance of wild boars and other wildlife in urban areas, saying, "This problem has arisen because humans have destroyed natural ecosystems, causing the habitats of wild animals to disappear," and added, "As a result, they have no choice but to come into the city in search of food."

He advised, "We need to find ways to guarantee the lives of wild animals like wild boars while simultaneously preventing their appearance in urban areas. Also, since ASF is spreading, there are issues with quarantine and culling, but ethical and humane methods should be applied in this process. Ultimately, we must find a path for coexistence between humans and wildlife."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.