Opponents of a wild boar cull protested outside Warsaw City Hall on Wednesday, demanding alternative solutions to manage the growing urban boar population.
Protest Against Boar Cull
Opponents of the wild boar cull gathered outside Warsaw City Hall to protest against the shooting of the animals. They appealed for a halt to the cull decision, the establishment of an expert council, and the implementation of alternative boar management methods.
Protesters carried banners with slogans such as “A boar is good, the city hall is bad, it’s shameful to murder like you,” “Trzaskowski, enough of this carelessness,” and chanted slogans like “Stop the boar massacre,” “A boar is wild, the hunter is evil,” and “Warsaw is not a slaughterhouse.”
Boar Population and Cull Numbers
Protesters stated that 500 boars are killed annually in Warsaw. They also criticized the city hall for having a member of the Polish Hunting Association’s Main Board as the director of Warsaw City Forests, calling for their removal.
Calls for Non-Lethal Solutions
Mariusz Kaczmarczyk of the “Don’t Shoot Boars” initiative and the Warsaw Anti-Hunting Movement stated that they proposed the establishment of an independent expert team to advise on non-lethal solutions to problems with wild animals, but these proposals were ignored by the Warsaw President.
Concerns Over Cull Impact
Veterinarian Dorota Sumińska stated that research suggests culling boars can lead to population growth and genetic degeneration, as younger sows breed multiple times a year. She argued that without culling, the population would remain stable.
City’s Justification and Safety Concerns
Warsaw President Rafał Trzaskowski emphasized that the city is constantly discussing the issue with experts, but acknowledged a growing safety problem due to the increasing boar population. He stated that action is necessary when boars enter playgrounds.
Trzaskowski reiterated that he has “no choice” but to authorize the cull to ensure the safety of Warsaw residents, adding that the city will improve the security of garbage containers and continue educational campaigns against feeding boars. He noted the boar population has increased from a few hundred to several thousand in recent years.
Current Situation and Restrictions
According to foresters, there are currently 3,000 boars in Warsaw. There have been over 120 dangerous incidents involving boars in the city this year. Warsaw is within areas restricted due to African swine fever, preventing the relocation of animals, which was previously possible.
Several incidents of sows with piglets being killed in front of residents, including children, on Bemowo and Mokotów, caused public outcry. City Forests apologized for these events, and the President assured that decisions have been made to prevent such killings from occurring in public view.
75 boars have been culled since the beginning of the year, compared to 464 in all of 2023. The director of Warsaw City Forests, Karol Podgórski, stated that the most boars were culled in the Wawer and Białołęka districts, with 177 and 162 individuals respectively.