WHILE coming to visit relations in the Forest recently, I was arriving about 10.15 on a Saturday morning, when to my amazement I?observed a small group of people, male and female, feeding, stroking and taking photographs of a wild boar sow and her offspring.

My first thought was how nice, and then it struck me, it should have been how foolish.

Do these people not realise the damage they are doing? They are actually condemning these wild boar to death!

I point this out as wild boar are more intelligent than dogs, and will quickly adapt to human presence.

If they get used to being fed by humans, they are more at risk of invading gardens, picnics, having confrontations with dogs, and also being shot by poachers as they will be easier to bait to the guns.

They also have more chance of being run down on the roads.

Have these people no knowledge of wildlife?

I say use your common sense and leave them alone. Do not encourage them with food just so you can stroke and photograph them, as you are as sure as hell condemning them to death. Their deaths will be on your hands, and your responsibility.

– Eddie Hyson, Cirencester.