A Spanish tourist town has had to call in archers as an explosion in the wild boar population threatens human safety.
Mijas town hall said it had no alternative but to take drastic action as the animals have been spotted in children’s parks, on the main streets and near the famous beaches.
Officials aren’t saying how many wild boars have been shot but experts predict the problem “isn’t going away” on the Costa del Sol and elsewhere in Spain.
The boars often swim in the sea off holiday beaches and some tourists have been attacked as the animals suddenly race out of the water onto the sand.
The boars are said to be multiplying rapidly as the current drought in Spain, together with a succession of wildfires, has taken away some of their natural habitat. They are therefore being drawn to towns in their search for food and water.
“These animals proliferate very easily and with great ease and are classified as pests and invasive animals,” said one expert.
It’s estimated that there are more than one million boars in Spain and that number could double by 2025.
There is concern about the destruction of crops, the increase in traffic accidents and the spread of animal diseases, as well as people’s safety. Experts say the animals have lost their fear of humans.
The city council of Valdemorillo in Madrid has already called in professional archers and now Mijas, the pretty tourist town visited by thousands of Brits, has done the same.
July, August and September are said to be the most worrying months as farmers leave residue crops in fields.
Mijas council called in archers from the Andalusian Hunting Federation as an emergency measure to control the wild boar population.
A spokesman confirmed the emergency decision had been made due to the “dangerous situation”, with the boars having been spotted in urban areas and in playgrounds.
Councillor for the environment, Marco Cortés said the cull had been carried out based on the “recommendations” of both the College of Veterinarians and the Government of Andalusia.
He said they had received an avalanche of calls, adding: “A police report warned us of the numerous calls received with danger in the vicinity where the wild boars were, in playgrounds and at school stops, even on the highway A-7 which we have had to cut for the safety of drivers.”
The police report said that there had been attacks on people and domestic animals.
The action was carried out by “some professionals from the Wild Species Control Service of the Andalusian Hunting Federation” as “they are the only ones authorised by the Andalusian Government since 2020”, and responds to “a specific measure to try to control” the population.
“This problem will exist and has existed for almost 14 years,” said the councillor.
Areas in Mijas where the wild boars had been spotted included the famous resort beach of Calahonda.
