This article is from page 1 of the 2013-07-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
UNDERGROUND hunting rings are believed to be behind the reintroduction of herds of wild boar into rural County Clare. Three separate herds of wild boar have been discovered by authorities in forestry areas in the east and south of the county – with a total of 24 animals being captured from the wild. The most recent herd was discovered last week in the Sixmilebridge area where two adults and two young boar were discovered.
“These can be very dangerous animals – especially if they turn wild. The difficulty is that they breed like hell and while these animals are relatively sedate, one sow could have 13 or 14 offspring, and these offspring would be wild,” Clare’s ISPCA Warden, Frankie Coote told The Clare People this week.
Earlier this year, 15 animals were discovered in the Scariff area and a further five were discovered in a separate location in East Clare.
According to Frankie Coote, the animals are likely being released so that their offspring can be hunted for sport.
“I believe that they are being introduced by people who have an interest in coming back again and shooting the animals,” he said. ContinuedonPage14