Forestry officials in the northeastern Chinese city of
Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province, have reduced the number
of wild boars to be culled to 40 from 50, a move which appears to
be an attempt to placate furious animal rights protestors.
Ten days ago, the provincial authorities gave Mudanjiang and
another city, Jixi, the power to kill 50 wild boars each in
response to reports that the animals were injuring local residents
and damaging crops.
The decision provoked protests from environmentalists and 10,000
people signed a petition in opposition to the slaughter of a
species that is under state-level protection.
Although the Mudanjiang officials have torn up ten death
warrants for the boars, others may still be removed from their
natural habitat.
"We will also try to capture and domesticate the wild boars in
order to study their natural behavior," said Shen Qingyu, deputy
director of the Mudanjiang City Forestry Bureau. He did not reveal
how many boars would be captured.
Shen also rejected claims that the culling quota was reduced due
to pressure from environmental campaigners, citing the fact that
the autumn harvest season had passed, which had reduced the danger
of the boars destroying the crops.
The Jixi officials are also considering whether or not to lower
the number of boars to be killed.
China's wild boar population is estimated to have nearly doubled
from 36,000 to 70,000 over the last five years thanks to
conservation efforts and better ecological management, according to
local forestry authorities.
But the animals have often invaded villagers' homes.
Heilongjiang Province has reported 50 cases of attacks on villagers
and damage to crops since 2000.
China's law on wild animal protection does not permit the
hunting of animals under state protection, which include wild
boars. However, the law does not detail what to do when people
suffer injuries from wild animal attacks.
Local villagers have complained that they have tried various
methods to drive the wild boars away from the villages but haven't
succeeded.
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)
