Wild(?) Boar (c?)

This is the final image in this series.

It is worth noting that in 3 days I had gone from,
Day 1 - physically having to actually find them and then play cat and mouse with them to,
Day 2 - using remote triggers on boar paths to,
Day 3 - distance-trailing to get (or being allowed to get) slightly closer to these animals for individual shots,

It became clear that IMHO they really aren’t that dangerous, nor aggressive, they just want an assurance of familiarity so that they know they are not under threat. This was no more vividly displayed than when the regular person who is responsible for that forest area is present i.e. the person they probably see most in their part of the wood.

The above shot shown was taken whilst this person was present and is nearly full frame on a 300mm; they would quite happy let this person walk amongst them and me (by association I assume) tag along. But what is more important about this image is what it does not show; the time it was taken.

The image was taken on the late on the day I arrived, (Day 0) to pick up the keys for the access gates. We enterd the enclosure as the boar where visiable and I simply dropped to one knee and shot. At this point I had these boar as truly captive and the job to be done a doddle; the next 3 days proved somewhat otherwise.

I suppose I would call into question their status as “Dangerous Animals”. In Germany Wild Boar actually co-habit the same space as humans with little incident. For a photo supporting this please see Wild Boar. I have seen a similar pictures numerous times.

As a parting shot: The Dangerous Animal Act; is that an act that says we humans are likely do something dangerous (through fear or ignorance) and subsequently provoke a basic response from an animal listed?

Commnets and discussion most welcome - just keep it civil

Just for noting, the first image is a variant of a similar shot I have seen taken by Pete Cairns.
For Elliot the habitat is shown above.

For me Tom this is your best one

, though I might be tempted to crop more off the left so you can't see any of the left eye, infact, masking it on screen with a card, I might be tempted to crop straight through the centerline of the head, especially if there's anything spare on the right.

That's my to'penorth

Very interesting series of images, I've enjoyed them. You seem to have invested a lot of time and effort in these images - I'm curious are they taken for a specific client or purpose? I struggle to get out for an hour with a young child - dont know how you do it! Tristan

Andy, I already have that variant see above. I prefer the full nose.

Tristan, Yes I have a target for them. Defra’s has just taken a decision to allow landowners to decide the priorities for the management of wild boar populations. They are news worthy.

I like this, but if there's no more 'image' on the right then perhaps you're right

But it's just that 'bit' of left eye orbit that niggles me a bit

Awesome image of an awesome animal

My least favourite of the three Tom. I like tight in the frame, but with so much OOF snout it does nothing for me.
There's no real debate about how dangerous these animals can be, but there's normally a huge deal of exaggeration in the truth about how often they become dangerous, or indeed why they become so. I would imagine that most cases of attacks are brought about by disturbing them by accident or by ignorance of their behavior when taken by surprise.
Personally I'm all for them being released in woodlands, what better way to rotovate the forest floor for natural regeneration of natural woodlands w/o poaching the ground? They also have the added benefit of deterring ppl exercising their rights to roam without exercising any responsibility. Sometimes ignorance can have it's benefits
Hell, a field of cattle can be the most dangerous place to be if ones wits are not about one, especially if there's real ignorance to the dangers present. The difference between the cattle situation and the boar one is that most folks can see that cattle are big and could possibly harm them, but if they can't see the boar...........

Anyway it's late and I'm off to bed

Good series of shots


John

It's news, so they must be dangerous if they are going to get a mention. I would love to see more of them about but I do have reservations about re-releasing animals that have disappeared from Britain such as boar, beavers, wolves etc. This is not the same country that it was when they were last here and I'm not sure that there is the space/wilderness any more to prevent the clashes with the human population that led to their being wiped out in the first place. I feel that we mess too much and that left to its own devices, nature will sort things out. Every time we introduce something she has to start again.
Anyway, I am glad that these are here, because I have really enjoyed these pics Tom. I like this one as well, better with the left eye cropped off for me.
Eric

Another great shot Tom

Most animals will only attack if they perceive you as either food or a threat. When Wild Boar were hunted in this country they may well have automatically regarded humans a a threat and reacted aggressively but they seem to peacefully co-exist with people in several European countries these days so I don't see any problem with having them back in our countryside.



Paul

Tom,

Another in an increasingly delightful series. My personal preference is for the second version.

Having worked with pigs I know what intelligent and inquisitive creatures they are. I also feel that wild boars are probably only as dangerous as we make them. Of course that is easy for me to say sitting in the comfort of my office. I do value your comments though from the "front line".

Thanks for sharing

Adrian

Hi Tom a very nice series of the Boar and also interesting discussion on this thread.
John
Aberdeen

Hi Tom,

This has been a superb series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Each story behind the images really added to the enjoyment. All images are outstanding but if I had to choose one it would have to be the second one.

With reference to the debate as to whether these animals should be re-introduced back into the wild or not (talk about opening a can of worms) is a real problem for me.

For me personally I’d love it (as a naturalist/photographer) but I know how the British are compared to our counterparts in Europe, etc… The lack of education really is the biggest problem, which causes idiotice. I have seen the way certain people can behave towards relatively tame animals doing allsorts, to incite a response, such as poking a adder with a stick – then wonder why they got bitten. All it would take is one idiot to get injured/killed by a boar and that would provoke a mass slaughter of them again!

I think having large enclosed natural environments would be fantastic and would help prevent them straying into the urban environment where most people would have a problems. It is a shame we can’t share this world with our fellow people and even more so with other animals that have an equal to be here too.

I have to say I prefer the second crop. The edge of the eye unbalanced the first one for me. I can imagine it'll look pretty good black and white as well.

Greg

Hi Tom

Great pictures - I'm fairly sure I know where you took them!

Interesting thread about the relative merits of re-introducing wild boar. Significantly, only John has alluded to their ecological role - most commentators are pre-occupied with their perceived danger to us or ours. For me, this underlines the determining factor when it comes to any discussions on boar, beaver, wolf etc - perceptions. It's perceptions that count - real or imagined. Perceptions can be changed though and by posting these pictures and igniting a discussion, some possibly have already.

Pete

ps. Your image is better than mine!

Excellent and enjoyable sequence of images Tom and a very interesting discussion too.
Interesting to hear the story and technique involved in getting the shots too.

We used to have these in the back!!! garden / forest great animals and difficult to track at times,,,, mmmmmmm! Sucking boar dribble.