{"id":11144,"date":"2022-05-16T04:46:10","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T03:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=11144"},"modified":"2022-05-19T18:04:07","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T17:04:07","slug":"rooting-for-the-wild-boar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/rooting-for-the-wild-boar\/","title":{"rendered":"Rooting for the Wild Boar: Why does rewilding make the country uncomfortable?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Britain is on a journey with rewilding but re-introduced species like the wild boar are largely unwelcomed. Can the country overcome its zoophobia?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a sunny afternoon and the forest is alive with birdsong. A pair of pied flycatchers, back home after wintering in West Africa, fly past a large stretch of land that seems to have been turned over. The culprits, sleeping deep inside the wilderness, are unaware that their enthusiastic nocturnal activity helps bring these woodlands to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;It was here in the Forest of Dean, that naturalist Ed Drewitt had a close encounter with a fearless mother boar and her young ones who sneaked up on him to make sure he didn\u2019t mean harm. \u201cShe\u2019s very sneaky. She\u2019ll get a good eye of you or sniff of you and go \u2018Huff! Huff!\u2019 and that is the signal for the baby boars to run off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing experience because you think she\u2019s heading off and actually she\u2019s not. She\u2019s coming to check you out. Work out whether you are a danger or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11327\" width=\"770\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-293x196.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11327\" width=\"770\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4461365530_5c0ceece34_c-293x196.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Baby boars are called &#8216;humbugs&#8217; because their coat resembles the sweet in appearance. Photo credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/global_ranger\/\">Global Ranger<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The turned-over soil is the result of the wild boar\u2019s \u201crooting behaviour\u201d. The animals use their snouts as a shovel to turn up the ground to look for roots, seeds, or small invertebrates to eat. The process breaks down over-grown vegetation and allows seeds buried deep in the soil to sprout. Back in February, when the turning was freshly done, this land would have appeared barren. But four months later, there are little seedlings sprouting from the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey have pushed the bracken back and have allowed the seeds of plants buried in the soil to come up and create a slightly different habitat and environment. Previously this time of the year the bracken was smothering,\u201d says Ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wild boars are called woodland engineers and for fair reasons. They help with soil drainage by breaking up the soil . They help to put the leaf and leaf matter back into the soil which helps the worms and soil invertebrates. Their scat is organic that benefits the dung beetles. Birds like blackbirds, thrushes, and robins benefit because where the ground has been freshly turned, they can come and feed on worms. When they wallow, to cool themselves with mud baths, they create small woodland pools overtime where birds can feed and newts and frogs can spawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This unique trait of the wild boars makes them a promising candidate for re-introduction in ecological habitats that need restoration. The original wild boars in the UK were hunted to extinction 600 years ago. However, with the surge in the popularity of the concept of rewilding, their return is being planned and welcomed in many parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>British woodlands have evolved to have wild boar. Interacting with the soil, interacting with trees and wildlife<\/p><cite><sub>Ed Drewitt, Freelance Naturalist<\/sub><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Although not a new concept, rewilding became synonymous with George Monbiot\u2019s controversial book, \u201cFeral\u201d in which he makes a passionate case for rewilding in the UK. It is a process of restoration of ecosystems by letting nature take over and take care of itself. Rewilding can be done by helping restore natural processes or bringing back missing key species that can help in habitat recovery and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe idea of rewilding has been around for quite a long time but its only now that people are getting confirmation of climate change and biodiversity loss that is making people think that they have got to do something,\u201d says Ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">But despite being an ideal rewilding species, the wild boars have been a subject of intense debate. The fact that they are prolific breeders and their perception as a dangerous animal challenges the status of their existing populations and talks of their re-introduction. There have been reports of boars attacking pet dogs that are off the lead. In rare cases, rogue boars have also attacked people. It\u2019s not uncommon for a mother boar to be aggressive if the young ones are around. However, these instances are sporadic and most animals are shy and avoid human presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have been going out now for years, showing people boar. They run a mile from you. When you do hear stories about them being dangerous or people being scared, I think that is more people\u2019s perception. It might be that they have a dog off the lead or it may be fear playing on people\u2019s minds,\u201d says Ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-669x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11326\" width=\"518\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-669x1024.png 669w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-770x1179.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-293x449.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-669x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11326\" width=\"518\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-669x1024.png 669w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-770x1179.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1-293x449.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/Wild-boar-distribution-in-the-UK-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The boars that reside in the Forest of Dean today, came from two groups of farm-raised boars that were released in 1999 and 2004 in the area and eventually proliferated. Their re-introduction in the woodland is also controversial because of their status as a non-native species that was illegally released. Though the original wild boars were native to Britain, the current population is classed differently because it came from commercial farm stock. However, their nature and habits are very much the same as their ancestors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom an ecological point of view, they are doing the same thing as the native wild boar. You have to remember that the wild boar has been around for thousands if not millions of years. And British woodlands have evolved to have wild boar. Interacting with the soil, interacting with trees and wildlife,\u201d says Ed. \u201cSo here in the forest of dean I feel like the wild boar has come back to carry on some of those processes that it would have done hundreds of years ago\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11328\" width=\"770\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2.jpg 799w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11328\" width=\"770\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2.jpg 799w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/9412108536_8fb81fa15b_c-2-293x195.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>The boars are regularly culled by rangers in the Forest of Dean to keep their population in check. Photo credits:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/algy_3289\/\"> Algy O&#8217;Connel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the boar, the beaver is another promising candidate for re-introduction in aquatic habitats. Beavers also act as ecosystem engineers and modify wet landscapes. They build dams and create channels that can control flooding and improve water quality. When they fell trees and bushes, it diversifies the habitat to boost biodiversity. They are a \u201ckeystone species\u201d which means that their absence would either be catastrophic for the ecosystem or will alter it significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"461\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c.jpg 799w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c-770x444.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c-293x169.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c.jpg 799w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c-770x444.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/8041570054_9ebf6c4308_c-293x169.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>A beaver dam. Photo credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tkellyphoto\/\">Tom Kelly<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The beavers were also hunted to extinction and subsequently reintroduced under the policy of rewilding. Their growing numbers have however stirred a debate, especially in Scotland where the animals have done damage to the crops of some farmers. Even though the beaver is a protected species in Scotland, farmers can apply for a license to kill the animals if they damage the crop. 87 beavers were killed in 2019 with this license. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The uncanny parallel between the boar and beavers facing hostility from people seems to be indicative of a larger, underlying issue of attitude towards rewilded species. \u201cI think its human nature,\u201d says Ed, \u201cthat when there is an animal that has been absent for so long, that people don\u2019t know much about, particularly if they come into urban areas, people start seeing them as a threat. They don\u2019t know how to behave around them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The apprehension of reintroducing previously extinct animals intensifies with larger carnivores like wolves and lynx. Wolves were persecuted and hunted across Europe and were wiped out of Britain in the 18th century. Lynx survived a little longer before succumbing to habitat loss and hunting around 1300 years ago. Both these carnivores can play a crucial role in controlling deer population and overgrazing but the prospect of their return provokes serious opposition from the farming community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/4973028423_f58fd37252_c-edited-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Wolves are spread across most of Europe but still suffer persecution. Photo credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/53357045@N02\/\">Angell Williams<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWolves could do a pretty good job of keeping the red deer under control in Scotland,\u201d says Ed. &#8220;It\u2019s got vast tracks of land to do that with but when you bring up the idea of rewilding and wolves, there is a very negative reaction around this. We don\u2019t know how to behave around wolves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p> There has to be a cultural shift if we want a Britain that has any wildlife left in it in the next 50 to 100 years.<\/p><cite>Ed Drewitt<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of fear about rewilding larger animals is farming-related. The farming community vehemently opposes any plans for the re-introduction of larger carnivore species citing apprehension that the animals will prey on their sheep and lamb. With respect to the lynx, evidence from other European countries suggests that the animal will almost exclusively prey on deer and its likelihood of preying on sheep is extremely low. This, however, does not seem enough to allay the farmer\u2019s fear about their livestock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ed thinks that the re-introduction of larger species like wolves and lynx needs to be done in the right places while addressing the concerns of the farmers. \u201cIt takes time and I think it has to be in the right places. It has got to be in places where you&#8217;ve got the right environment, right prey, but also, at the same time, reassurance to the farming community that in case of loss of livestock, they will be compensated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea of rewilding also throws up challenges for a society that is obsessed with controlling nature and getting rid of anything that people perceive as unwanted or unsightly. \u201cEven this idea of not getting rid of all the weeds in your garden or letting the wildflowers grow, it\u2019s very difficult for people to do that,\u201d says Ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"587\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-587x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-587x1024.png 587w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-172x300.png 172w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-293x511.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000.png 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"587\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-587x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-587x1024.png 587w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-172x300.png 172w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000-293x511.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/png_20220516_015712_0000.png 760w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>70 percent of Britain is covered in farmland and most of that farmland and most of these lands are devoid of any wildlife on it because of the use of pesticides and herbicides. If attitudes towards wildlife do not improve, it would spell serious consequences for the ecological environment of the country. \u201cThere has to be a cultural shift if we want a Britain that has any wildlife left in it in the next 50 to 100 years,\u201d says Ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So is there still hope for the wild boar? The answer would be in the affirmative. Forestry England, for example, has a plan called \u2018Our Shared Forests\u2019 which is a 100-year plan concerning how the Forest of Dean can be managed. \u201cIt very much acknowledges that the boar is a part of the solution, says Ed. \u201cThere is an acceptance that that we do want them here in the Forest of Dean. The wild boar is here to stay.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Britain is on a journey with rewilding but re-introduced species like the wild boar are largely unwelcomed. Can the country overcome its zoophobia?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":804,"featured_media":11432,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[321,47],"class_list":["post-11144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-environment","tag-wildlife"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rooting for the Wild Boar: Why does rewilding make the country uncomfortable? - Life360<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=11144\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rooting for the Wild Boar: Why does rewilding make the country uncomfortable? - Life360\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Britain is on a journey with rewilding but re-introduced species like the wild boar are largely unwelcomed. 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