Today Online 21 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE — A "rampaging" wild boar which was shot by a police officer on Tuesday (Nov 21) evening had to be euthanised after sustaining a gunshot wound to its neck, wildlife rescue group ACRES said.
The tusked wild boar — measuring 1.5m from head to tail — was involved in an accident with a car at Punggol West Flyover prior to the encounter with the police.
"It is a very unfortunate situation where the boar most certainly became very stressed due to injuries sustained from its collision with a vehicle," said an ACRES spokesperson. "The poor animal probably found itself cornered and became defensive."
The police said in a statement that they were initially alerted to an accident involving the wild boar and a car at the flyover around 7pm. The injured animal was lying on the road when the police and staff from ACRES arrived at the scene.
"The wild boar (then) got up and charged towards the officers and members of the public within the vicinity. The officers fired their Tasers at the boar, but it continued to charge towards them and the public," the police added.
This prompted one of the officers at the scene to draw his revolver and fire at the wild boar "to stop it from injuring anyone", the police said.
ACRES noted that while wild animals tend to be shy and avoid human contact, "in this situation, the cramped area with high human traffic stressed the boar".
The wildlife rescue group urged the public not to approach wild animals and give them space when in their presence.
No one was injured in the incident.
Wild boar shot by police after endangering public safety at Punggol West Flyover
Channel NewsAsia 21 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE: A wild boar was shot by police on Tuesday evening (Nov 21) for "endangering public safety" at Punggol West Flyover.
In a statement, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a wild boar and a car on Punggol West Flyover at about 7pm.
An injured wild boar was lying on the road when police officers and staff members from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) arrived.
"The wild boar got up and charged towards the officers and members of the public within the vicinity," the police said.
Officers fired their tasers at the boar, but it continued to charge towards them and members of the public.
"As the wild boar was rampaging and was a danger to the people within the vicinity, an officer had to draw his revolver to fire a shot at it, to stop it from injuring anyone," the police said.
Advertisement
The boar, which measured 1.5m from head to tail, was shot in the neck. It was injured and was handed over to ACRES, the police added.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
In a statement, ACRES said it had to euthanise the animal due to its injuries from the gunshot. "We have assessed this particular case and it is a very unfortunate situation where the boar most certainly became very stressed due to injuries sustained from its collision with a vehicle. The poor animal probably found itself cornered and became defensive."
It added that wild animals in general are shy animals who usually move away when sighted. However in this situation, the cramped area with high human traffic had stressed the boar.
ACRES urged the public not to approach wild animals but to give them space.
Several people also posted on social media about the incident.
Facebook user Nazrin Bin Suhaimi warned commuters to avoid the Tampines Expressway exit to Sengkang East Road because of a "dead wild boar on the road covering two lanes".
"Massive jam," he added.
Another Facebook user Abang Pete wrote in a post that he saw it "struggling and kicking away" while he was driving on Sengkang East Road.
"It looked somewhat like a cow lying on the road," he wrote. "When my headlights shone on the poor thing, I realised that it was a huge wild boar, possibly hit by a passing vehicle.
"What registered in my memory was its eyes looking at my lights," he added. "It was fearful, and noticeably in pain.
"You know, I hate wild boars and they are what I consider the apex adversaries of the Singaporean soldier, but to see it like that, to put it mildly, was disturbing."
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a Facebook post that it will monitor the situation at Punggol area closely.
"We will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders, such as ACRES, WRS (Wildlife Reserves Singapore), NParks and NUS to manage the wild boars so as to ensure public safety," it said.
It added that they are exploring various measures, such as erecting barriers to prevent wildlife from encroaching onto roads, and putting up signs about wildlife crossings to warn motorists.
AVA advised the public to keep a safe distance from the wild boars and avoid confronting or cornering them.
"Do not interact with the wild boars and keep young children and pets away from them."
In a tweet at around 7.45pm, the Land Transport Authoirty warned of an accident on Sengkang East Road near the junction between Punggol Road and Sengkang East Road.
Last month, a man was injured after a wild boar attacked him at Hillview Road. He suffered a deep cut of about 10cm on his thigh. A Taiwanese woman was also injured by a boar near Windsor Park in July.
Authorities have said that they are working on managing wild boar issues in Singapore after reports of more sightings near residential areas.
Source: CNA/nc
Police shoot wild boar that was rampaging in Punggol
Lydia Lam Straits Times 21 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE - Police shot a wild boar that was rampaging on a road in Punggol on Tuesday night (Nov 21).
It was later euthanised due to injuries sustained by the shot fired.
In a statement, the police said they were alerted at 7.08pm to an accident involving a wild boar and a car on Punggol West Flyover.
The injured wild boar was lying on the road when policemen and members of wildlife rescue group Acres arrived at the location.
The wild boar got up and charged towards the officers and passers-by in the area.
The policemen fired their tasers at the boar, but it continued to charge towards them and the public.
"As the wild boar was rampaging and was a danger to the people within the vicinity, an officer had to draw his revolver to fire a shot at it, to stop it from injuring anyone," said the police.
The tusked wild boar, which measured 1.5m from head to tail, was shot in the neck. It was handed over to Acres, who had to put it to sleep due to its injuries from the gunshot.
No one was injured in the incident.
Acres deputy chief executive Kalai Vanan told The Straits Times: "We have assessed this particular case and it is a very unfortunate situation where the boar most certainly became very stressed due to injuries sustained from its collision with a vehicle. The poor animal probably found itself cornered and became defensive."
Wild animals in general are shy animals who usually move away when sighted, said Mr Kalai.
"However in this situation, the cramped area with high human traffic stressed the boar," he said, adding that the public should never approach wild animals and should give them space when in their presence.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a Facebook post on Tuesday night that it will monitor the situation at the Punggol area closely and continue to work with the relevant stakeholders, such as Acres, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, NParks and the National University of Singapore, to manage the wild boars so as to ensure public safety.
"We are exploring various measures, such as erecting barriers to prevent wildlife from encroaching onto roads, and putting up signage about wildlife crossings at specific locations to warn motorists," it added.
The boar had been spotted by motorists and passers-by alike, who commented about it on social media.
Facebook user Abang Pete said in a post at 7.38pm that he was driving at Sengkang East Road when he saw something he thought was a black plastic bag on the road and steered to avoid it.
"I was shocked to see it struggling and kicking away," he wrote. "When my headlights shone on the poor thing, I realised that it was a huge wild boar, possibly hit by a passing vehicle."
This is the latest in a string of wild boar incidents in recent months.
Last month, a man was injured after a wild boar charged at him outside a condominium at 25, Hillview Avenue.
In September, a motorcyclist and his pillion rider were taken to hospital after a wild boar appeared suddenly on the Ayer Rajah Expressway after the Tuas Checkpoint.
The public can call AVA at 1800-476-1600 to report wild boar sightings.
