IT'S hard to understand why the Friends of the Boar are so opposed to culling.

Why do they concentrate on boar? Deer have been culled in the Forest for decades and yet there are no complaints about that. The same with squirrels.

The Friends claim that culling is likely to eliminate the presence of boar entirely.

How do they work that one out? By their own admission it is hard to determine what the exact population is, and as the animals generally avoid humans it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to wipe them out entirely.

Besides, given the rate at which they breed, it would only need a handful to remain free for the population to quickly re-establish itself.

Much of the online support for the boar comes from people who don't live in or around the Forest, indeed many of them don't even live in this country.

So why should they have more of a say in the management of boar than those who are directly affected by their presence?

Contraception is often quoted as an alternative to culling, but at present there is no safe and effective way of doing this.

Even if a suitable contraceptive were available, treating each sow individually is not an option.

Adding the contraceptive to food would mean the contraceptive would be eaten by boars and sows, old and young alike, with some overdosing and others getting none at all.

Most people don't seem to want the boar removed completely.

They are, it appears, generally willing to accept them in the woodland.

That's their natural habitat – not on playing fields, picnic sites, golf courses or gardens.

The Forestry Commission hasn't wiped out the deer population through culling and if they were simply allowed to get on with the job of boar management it would be better for boar and locals.

Anyone with internet access can easily find out what has happened in other countries where the boar/feral pig population is out of control.

Forestry Commission staff and others have been threatened by some animal rights supporters.

As a result I do not feel safe to publish my full name and address for fear of reprisals.

– Name and address supplied.