ONCE again, animals in the wild – this time boar in the Forest of Dean – are to pay with their lives because of mistakes made by people. Boar were introduced to the UK by farmers and hunters with the sole aim of killing them, either for profit or for fun. That some have escaped and established themselves after centuries of persecution means that they finally have a chance to live a natural existence.

There are an estimated 1,000 boar living in the wild, which makes them a rarity. Despite this, some people rank perfect lawns and bluebells more highly than the right of wild animals to live freely and feed themselves.

While boar can be aggressive when they have young, there are very few reported incidents where people have felt unsafe. In fact, boar who have been living freely for some time become so shy and retiring that wildlife photographers have had difficulty in capturing them on film.

With natural habitats dwindling, and wildlife suffering from human intervention, it is remarkable that a new species can survive and thrive. We should be thrilled that boar can live freely in Britain, and not see them as a 'pest' whose life – if inconvenient to us – can simply be snuffed out. – Kate Fowler, Head of Campaigns, Animal Aid, Tonbridge, Kent.