Farmers to decide on wild boar controls

Farmers and rural communities will have to decide for themselves whether they want wild boar living on their land.

The government has drawn up an action plan to help local people to either manage growing numbers of wild boar or get rid of them.

The wild boar died out in England 300 years ago but escapes and releases from farms have helped it become re-established in isolated pockets.

There are thought to be between 500-1,000 animals living mainly in three populations on the Kent/Sussex border, the Forest of Dean and in west Dorset.

Announcing the first policy and action plan to help local communities manage feral wild boar populations the Minister for Biodiversity, Joan Ruddock, said: "It is important that communities and land owners are allowed to decide the future of their wild boar populations based on their local situation. The Government's support will help them make the right decisions for where they live.

"We will continue to look at the effect of feral wild boar on the environment, and will review our action plan in three years to ensure it is working."