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Thursday, 8 February 2007, 16:50 GMT

Wild boar concerns prompt study

Wild boar - generic A six-month monitoring period will be carried out on wild boar in Devon.

The decision was taken at a public meeting following growing concern at the number of the tusked creatures on the edge of Dartmoor.

Several boar, including a sow and her young, have been spotted near Buckland Monachorum and Roborough.

Some walkers have reported their dogs being threatened, and there is also concern about the damage the animals are causing to grazing land.

The meeting, organised by Buckland Monachorum Parish Council, was attended by local residents, police, Roborough Commoners - who have grazing rights in the area, Natural England, Dartmoor National Park Authority and landowner the Maristow Estate.

Shooting illegal

Charlie Wilson from Natural England told the meeting the creatures are not generally aggressive, although sows would react to protect their young if they felt threatened.

He said wild boar were mainly vegetarian, although newborn deer or lambs could occasionally be at risk.

Devon and Cornwall Police warned it was illegal to shoot boar and said even people with a gun licence would need a specific licence and written consent from the landowner to hunt the creatures.

The monitoring will be jointly carried out by Natural England, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Maristow Estate.



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Related to this story:
Wild boar put villagers in fear (05 Jan 07 |  Devon )
Wild boar confronts man and dogs (01 Jan 07 |  Devon )
Hunt helps find 60 missing boar (03 Jan 06 |  Devon )
Hunt goes on to find missing boar (23 Dec 05 |  Devon )

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Natural England
Devon and Cornwall Police
Buckland Monachorum Parish Council
Dartmoor National Park Authority
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