Chng Kheng Leng/Kimberly Spykerman Channel NewsAsia 22 Aug 12;
SINGAPORE: The authorities are stepping up efforts to manage the menace of wild boars in the Lower Pierce Reservoir area.
They are now trying to round up the animals and then put them to sleep.
The wild boars have been damaging the forest and park area as they root around for worms and insects, especially in the last few months.
Mr Wong Tuan Wah, Director of Conservation at NParks, said: "Previously it was pockets of just a few square metres of rooting. At the moment, we are looking at the severity of damage - and the amount of damage now is not tolerable."
The population of wild boars has grown significantly, disturbing even other animals in the areas.
Mr Wong said: "In the past, if you come to Lower Pierce, you may spot a mousedeer six or seven times out of 10 times. But now, it's very rare to spot a mousedeer. And we believe this is due to the presence of wild boars affecting the habitat and scaring away the mousedeer."
NParks says problem can't just be fixed by sterilising or relocating the wild boars.
Mr Wong said: "By sterilising them, you don't actually reduce the numbers at all. The animal will still be present and still continue to cause impact to the forest."
What it needs to do urgently is to reduce their numbers.
NParks will round up the wild boars, sedate them with dart guns and put them to sleep with drug injections.
It will also cut off their sources of food, especially those near the roads.
Mr Wong said: "They congregate near areas with high food source, for example areas with oil palms and rubber trees. We are looking at reducing their food sources - removing the oil palm trees as well as the rubber trees so as not to encourage them to come out to our park area and become a concern to the public."
The wild boars caused public concern in June, when two of them attacked a security guard and a boy in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
As NParks works to reduce their numbers, it also has to protect the natural habitat.
It will restore the forest by planting native trees and ensuring that they will thrive - away from the threat of the wild boars.
- CNA/de
