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Berlin Divided Over Wild Boars

Some locals call for extermination, shocking others

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2008 9:54 AM CST

(Newser) – Berliners are sharing their city with thousands of wild boars—and citizens are split on how to treat the porkers, the Wall Street Journal reports. Some prefer a more aggressive approach: Don’t feed them corn, says one licensed urban boar hunter, “feed them lead." But others are shocked by what some call boar “murderers,” preferring to peacefully coexist.

As for the boars themselves, they’re generally peaceful, attracted to Berlin’s wooded and grassy areas. But they dig up gardens and parks, hold up traffic, and can be dangerous if they perceive a threat. Several dogs are killed each year by the animals, which can reach 250 pounds; one killed a hunter in October. “Ultimately we must learn to share the city with the swine,” says a biologist.

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Berlin is divided over how to treat the boars. (Getty Images)

A car slows to avoid hitting a group of boars, August 19, 2008, in Berlin. (Getty Images)

Thousands of boars have gentrified Berlin. (Getty Images)

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A mother and her young poke around in Berlin's Grunewald district. (Libotti)

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If we don't get brutally pragmatic, the problem is going to get totally out of hand. - Matthias Eggert, licensed boar hunter

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Berlin Divided Over Wild Boars