Boar has a wild night out in the city centre
A ROGUE boar has been filmed roaming a city centre at night.
It was spotted snuffling around the streets of Gloucester in the shadow of the cathedral. It is thought either to be a wild boar from the Forest of Dean, a slaughterhouse escapee, or a pet that has run away.
A woman said her teenage son spent an hour trying to round up the animal to stop it being run over on Tuesday.
He failed and police were later called to another sighting near a sports centre. Officers tweeted: ‘Have you lost a pig? One’s been roaming Westgate Street in Gloucester tonight.
‘If it’s yours, please ring 101 and let us know!’
Hundreds of wild boar live in the Forest of Dean on the other side of the River Severn, about 15 miles from Gloucester. They are known to attack dogs, children and even cars. Walkers have reported frightening confrontations with them, especially in the breeding season.
Gloucester residents are certain their nocturnal visitor is no domestic pig. Jaclyn Davis wrote on Facebook: ‘Whatever it is it’s got four legs and a mouth that can snap your arm.’
Hannah Davenport said: ‘Don’t go near it, they are bigger and more dangerous than pigs – they can disembowel you.’
Ian Hatton replied: ‘It’s worrying if they are coming into Gloucester.’
It was reported in September last year that wild boar numbers in the Forest of Dean have trebled to 1,562, despite pledges by the Forestry Commission to keep them down to 400.
They have been venturing into residential areas in the hunt for food. But this is the first case of one making its way across the River Severn.
Wild boar became extinct in Britain in the 17th century but farmers started rearing them again for meat in the 1980s.
A number escaped and established breeding colonies.
Wild boar are good swimmers and one is said to have made it all the way from France to the Channel Islands.
Last month a herd of deer was spotted in East London.
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