Around 60 wild boars culled in Coimbatore Forest Division
As per GO, culling of wild boars by trained staff is allowed in places beyond 3 km of forest limits, but is prohibited in Zone A, which is within 1 km of the limits; the order recommends capture and release of wild boars
A sounder of wild boars spotted in a residential area at Kasthurinaickenpalayam in Coimbatore recently.
The Forest Department has culled about 60 wild boars that caused nuisance to residents and farmers within the jurisdiction of the Coimbatore Forest Division since the Tamil Nadu government permitted regulated killing of wild boars in 2025.
District Forest Officer N. Vengatesh Prabhu told The Hindu that culling of five wild boars were done during the term of his predecessor, after the order was issued by the government, and the remaining were carried out after he assumed office.
As per the Government Order, culling of wild boars by specially trained Forest Department staff is allowed in places beyond three km of forest limits (Zone C). While culling is prohibited in Zone A (within one km), the order recommends capture and release of wild boars in forest areas if they are found in Zone B (one to three km).
Three wild boars, which continued to cause trouble to residents and farmers at P.N. Pudur, were culled on Monday night. “Details of culling carried out in the division are being updated during the farmers’ grievance redress meeting held at the Collectorate once a month,” said the DFO.
According to him, specially trained staff carry out the culling, strictly going by the Government Order. Weapons provided to the division in December 2025 are used for the regulated killing. The carcasses of wild pigs culled from residential areas are disposed of by burying them in deep pits. The carcasses are not left in the wild for scavengers as the carcasses of animals that had been inhabiting human habitations could potentially pass on viruses or diseases to scavengers.
Residents P.N. Pudur and surrounding areas had been complaining to the Department about the menace posed by wild boars for several months. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had announced a protest to condemn the Department on July 24 as attempts to trap the wild pigs using cages also did not yield results. Even after the culling, residents alleged that more wild boars are still roaming in their locality.
Published - July 22, 2026 09:34 pm IST
Source: The Hindu — Cities
