While some residents are sympathetic to the boar’s plight with its injury and effort to survive, experts claim that boars coming down to the water is not unheard of. (image: Yonhap)
GANGNEUNG, Mar. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A wild boar was spotted by a bird photographer using a telephoto lens at the Namdaecheon Stream in Gangneung, Gangwon Province on Thursday.
The wild boar that was supposed to be in the mountains appeared by the banks of the stream, causing consternation among residents.
Emerging from a reed-covered island in the stream, the boar attacked a gathering of magpies and gulls and snatched away the dead mullet the birds were trying to eat.
While the birds were deprived of their prey, seeing the boar for the first time, they stood there watching the wild boar get away with the prey.
According to local bird photographers and residents, two wild boars, estimated to be piglets, have been making appearances by the river for more than a month.
Of the two boars, one that appeared to be healthy soon disappeared, but the other, with a wounded leg, remained by the river for the winter.
The appearance of the boars was surprising as there is no mountain offering suitable habitat for boars to live nearby, and the river is surrounded by roads with heavy traffic.
However, the question was soon resolved.
Shim Yoo-jin, who is working to rescue harmful wildlife in Gangwon Province, contacted a reporter after reading an article about the boar sighting. She claimed that she rescued the boars from a trap last August.
Ever since then, she has been taking care of three wounded boars near the river because they were still young and injured.
The three young boars grew to be wild boars, but escaped their enclosure after being frightened by the loud barking of hunting dogs.
The wild boar typically appears once a day to snatch away dead fish when the stream level drops.
It is gradually becoming bold and takes the fish without much regard for the presence of people in the relatively close proximity.
While some residents are sympathetic to the boar’s plight with its injury and effort to survive, experts claim that boars coming down to the water is not unheard of.
Officials from the Wildlife Management Association explained that wild boars actually like water and swim very well.
Furthermore, it is estimated that the boar came down to the stream for food, but since it is a nocturnal animal, seeing it during daylight hours may be a rare phenomenon.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
