By YU KOTSUBO/ Staff Writer
September 17, 2020 at 17:48 JST
Wild boars have teeth that can tear through human flesh. (Provided by the Association of Wildlife and Human Society)
Wildlife experts watched in horror as government officials and police officers chased down wild boars that wandered into urban areas in two recent viral videos.
The experts were more concerned about the safety of the pursuers, some of whom were wearing short-sleeved shirts, than the fate of the animals, one of which was eventually put down.
“There should be restrictions on trying to capture boars in such a casual manner,” an expert said.
In a statement released on Sept. 16, the Association of Wildlife and Human Society warned that it is extremely dangerous for municipal government officials and police in light clothing to try to capture wild boars.
Adult boars can weigh more than 100 kilograms and have knife-like canine teeth that can gash the thighs of humans, causing massive blood loss.
The animals can also bite off fingers and spread infectious diseases to unprotected chasers, the association said.
The association urges people to always protect the lower part of their body with stab-resistant gear or shields, and to wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing when trying to capture boars.
“Residents’ safety is the first priority, but we should not risk the lives of police officers and other officials,” Masatsugu Suzuki, the head of the association and a professor of Gifu University, said. “We should reinforce special departments that deal with harmful animals in towns as soon as possible.”
According to an Environment Ministry survey conducted at the end of fiscal 2017, about 880,000 boars were living in the wild across the nation.
About 600,000 boars are rounded up or killed every year through hunting and catching as dangerous animals. But female boars give a birth to about five babies a year, so their population has not decreased by much.
In recent years, more wild boars have entered human settlements likely in search of food, damaging agriculture and the living environment while also posing a threat to the inhabitants.
In Tsubame, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 2, city government officials and police officers were recorded chasing a wild boar through rice paddies and a ditch.
The battle was widely reported, and the animal was eventually shot by hunters who had been called in.
In the city of Fukuoka on Aug. 5, a boar led police on a lengthy chase before it was finally captured in nets.
The association’s announcement can be read at its website: (http://www.wildlife-humansociety.org/topix/inosisi202009.html).
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