Olav Sletner from Aurskog in Eastern Norway shot this wild boar in 2013. (Photo: Private)

The wild boar is blacklisted in Norway, but the population is increasing. Now the Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers (NJFF) is seeking Norwegian authorities for permission to train hunters in counties bordering Sweden in Eastern Norway.

In recent years, the wild boar population has increased, but the species is alien in Norwegian nature: It is unclear when it became extinct, but this may have happened about 500 BC.

More and more hunters bump into the temperamental swine when they are hunting for other animals, NJFF writes in the application. They also argue that that both hunters and dogs should receive training in searching for injured boars hit by cars.

The animal have spread from the Swedish population that is believed to count at least 150,000 individuals. In Sweden, about 60,000 wild boars that make great damage to grain and vegetable fields are shot annually. The animals originate from a few boars escaping from captivity in the 1970s.

Dangerous Hunt

NJFF is justifying the need for training, among other arguments, that the hunt can be dangerous. In the application, it is emphasized that the wild boar next to the brown bear is the only Nordic wild species that can attack the hunter when the animal is wounded or stressed.

The association believes it is important that hunters tracking injured animals know what they are doing. NJFF writes that it is important to be able to read wild boar tracks and signs, while both dog and hunter are safeguarded.

In addition, the safety of the public has to be taken into account, the association writes.

– We must remember the safety of the public if we were to let a wounded wild boar be out in nature. We are talking about large animals. Male wild boars have a body length of up to 185 centimeters (73 in) and can weigh up to 250 kilograms (551 lbs). Females are weighing up to 150 kilograms (331 lbs).

Text by: Thor Lanesskog, ThorNews

Source: NRK

Categories: Nature