Efforts are being made to trap a group of wild boars seen roaming in the Highlands amid concerns that they have been illegally released.
The group has been seen in an area between Insh and Glen Feshie and appear to be “relatively domesticated”.
Forestry and Land Scotland are currently attempting to trap the pigs that have been reported to be unfazed by humans.
It comes after four lynx were captured in the Cairngorms after being illegally released near Kingussie at the beginning of the year.
A local resident, Bob Murdoch, told STV News that while he wasn’t bothered by the presence of the boars, he was concerned about their welfare.
STV News“This is the second release of semi-tame animals that we’ve had in the area in the last couple of months.
“It doesn’t bother me personally, but I just feel sorry for the welfare of the animals because they’re semi-tame, so I don’t know how well they’ll survive in the area.”
Asked if he felt threatened by the animals, Mr Murdoch said he does not believe the animals pose a danger to the people in the area, as the boars appear to be used to humans.
“I don’t think people are in danger necessarily, but I’ve heard a few farmers express concerns about the disease transmission aspect of things from the animals”, he said.
“I’ve seen them react to people when there’s been people cycling in the forest, for example, and they don’t scatter about like a wild boar maybe would if they were out in Europe—they keep together in a cluster, and they don’t run particularly far away.”
Another local resident, Willie Anderson, said he also suspects the animals might have been released into the area.
“The videos I’ve seen of them, they look sort of semi-domesticated—they weren’t running away from people in terror.
STV News“Maybe someone’s just got something in their head about releasing wild animals.
“It seems a bit irresponsible if someone’s doing that.”
Once a native species of the UK, the boar was hunted to extinction during the Middle Ages.
The current UK boar population derives from captive animals that escaped or were illegally released.
An estimated 2,600 animals are now living wild in several breeding populations, the largest of which is in the Forest of Dean. Wild boars are also present in parts of South East and South West England, South East Wales, and North West Scotland.
A spokesperson for NatureScot said: “We are aware of a number of sightings of feral pigs in the Insh area.
“Forestry Land Scotland is leading on trapping these animals, and we are liaising with partner agencies to ascertain the full circumstances of how they came to be in the area.
“We understand that Police Scotland has also been informed of the situation.”
Cairngorm National Park has published a statement on its website confirming the Park Authority is aware of the recent sightings.
“We are aware that feral pigs have been spotted in an area of the Cairngorms National Park near Uath Lochans.
“The Park Authority is working closely with partners – including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland – to ascertain the full facts on the ground and Forestry and Land Scotland is currently attempting to trap the animals.
“The animals appear to be relatively domesticated and it is likely that this is an illegal release.
“The Park Authority condemns any illegal release of animals in the strongest possible terms.”
Anne Walker, who came close to the animals while walking her two dogs, told STV News that while the sight of a wild boar might be intimidating at first, she thinks it might be something people will have to get used to.
“I mean, if you meet a big stag, they are really scary, but nobody worries about them.
“I think it’s about learning to live with them in the same way as one has to live with everything.
“They have to learn where people are and where they aren’t, and I’ll have to know that they’re here, and I will have my dogs on the lead when I’m walking through this particular bit.”
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