Calpe Town Council, through the Department of the Environment, has implemented several measures to tackle the overpopulation of wild boars in the municipality.
In this regard, the council currently has a contract with a company specialising in wildlife management and with experience in this area, Gesfauna, a tender that began to be processed on 9 July. In the last few weeks this company has been working on the preparation of the control actions, i.e., it has carried out censuses to determine the wild boar population, has identified the most problematic areas, as well as obtaining the necessary permits from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture.
Soon, work will begin to capture the wild boars, which will be moved to a hunting plot.
In addition to all this, the Town Council is carrying out prevention and awareness actions. Information campaigns have been reinforced through the City Council's social networks in order to remind citizens of the importance of not feeding these animals, as established by the municipal ordinance on citizen coexistence in public spaces, which prohibits feeding any animal on public roads. To this end, it is stressed that artificial feeding alters their natural behaviour and accustoms them to human presence, which can lead to problems of coexistence. The ordinance also provides for penalties for all those who violate this prohibition.
‘Controlling the wild boar population is a necessary measure to guarantee the ecological balance, protect our crops and ensure the safety of all. It is not a decision taken lightly, but the result of an exhaustive analysis of the situation and the search for sustainable solutions,’ said councillor for the environment Pere Moll. It should be borne in mind that the excessive presence of wild boars, as well as altering ecosystems and causing damage to crops and properties, can lead to the transmission of diseases and their behaviour can become unpredictable, putting the safety of the public at risk.
The Town Council wishes to insist on the importance of not feeding wild boars, as artificial feeding is one of the main causes of the proliferation of these animals in urban areas. They also stress the need to respect the rules, such as following the instructions of the authorities and collaborating with the control measures that are being carried out and invite the public to report any sightings. ‘If you see any wild boar in an unusual area, you should report it to the Town Hall,’ says the councillor, who thanks everyone for their understanding and cooperation, adding that: “Together we can achieve a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals”.