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Extinct wild boar returns to Ireland

By
Donal Thornton,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, December 14, 2009, 8:34 AM
Updated Monday, December 14, 2009, 9:00 AM

 

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The wild boar is back in Ireland.

Biodiversity Ireland has received numerous reported sightings of wild boars this year in Ireland – despite the fact that the animal has been extinct in Ireland since the Middle Ages.

Boars and their litters have been spotted in Wicklow, Kilkenny and Tipperary.

Speaking to the Irish Times, Invasive Species Ireland expressed their concern that the boar could "expand unchallenged" in Ireland.

The Irish wolf was traditionally the boar’s natural predator, but with its absence in the natural habitat, the boar is free to roam the green fields of Ireland.

Coillte manages Ireland's forests and nature reserves, and their wildlife and game manager Barry Coad says the problem is "quite widespread throughout the country".

A 396 lb boar was shot just beside a school playground in South Tipperary this year. Coad personally captured nine boars in Kilkenny and Wicklow. According to Coad, the boar poses a threat to Ireland's agriculture.

The animal is renowned for uprooting native flora and spreading disease amongst farm animals.
   
"I think it is a serious concern for agriculture and also there is potential for spreading disease,” continued Coad.

Pat Scully, Chairman of the Wild Deer Association of Ireland, says that some members have encountered wild boar when hunting.

Scully knows that the animal can be imported with a license and he is aware of people that keep the animal as a pet.

"There are some in captivity and I assume it is a safe assumption that some would escape,” he said.

The wild boar features prominently in several Ancient Irish myths. Fionn Mac Cumhaill was a legendary Celtic warrior, and it is said that he lured his enemy Diarmuid Ua Duibhne to a gory death by a wild boar.

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2 Comments

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Posted by Madeleine on Jan 03, 2010, 05:37 PM EST
This is not a strange occurence to me, we now have an over abundance of Bears and rattle snakes in places they shouldn't be, they are being dumped there by our Government. George Bush dumped a 100 Grizzlies in the Idaho mountains, they thrived.The farmers are afraid to tend their sheep and goats now. We have rattlesnakes in Upstate NY, we were told they were always there, not in my lifetime they weren't or my Mothers, one hour from NY city and my daughter found 3 bears on her front lawn. and my son in law just missed stepping on a rattler in his back yard and in my area of chicago they have re-introduced the 28 lb. aligator snapping turtle to the wetlands, just what we need. The power elite crowd and the UN wants things the way they were originally and all people should pour back into the cities and leave the nice country for the animals because thats who it really belongs to, we are being run by a bunch of very rich pathetic crazies. I see they have hit your shores as well.Any animal that was ever in Ireland will make a return, wait and see. I notice Ireland has become very popular in our newspapers and TV , you will be in the same boat as we are, no one is going to leave a beautiful place like Ireland alone.Have they started taking over your shoreline yet? building ugly things and making national and state parks and naval bases etc. if you look at a map of america and look on the maine coastline or any coastline you will see there is nothing but gov. and state spots all along the coast, even the lakes have been invaded by Government and state parks and facilities, forget the biosphere reserves, they are everywhere there are beautiful areas, I'm sure you have a few of them, no one knows what they are for. welcome to the world of wildlife.
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Posted by IrishEddy on Dec 16, 2009, 09:00 PM EST
I thought the story was going to be about Bill O'Reilly
 


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