THE LARGEST number of wild boar were culled last year since efforts at controlling their numbers started more than a decade ago.

Forestry England rangers shot around 1,000 of the animals but it is not known how many boar there are in the Dean because the annual survey which estimates numbers was abandoned because of lockdown.

Deputy Suveyor of the Forest Kevin Stannard reported that the cull re-started in “a low-key way” in May with around 100 boar killed although operations had now been “stepped up”.

Forest councillors are to ask Forestry England what they are going to do to “rectify” the situation.

In a report to the Forest Council’s strategic and overview committee, Mr Stannard said: “The 19/20 cull of feral wild boar ended in March with a record cull of around 1,000 animals removed from the population.

“Unfortunately, the annual thermal imaging census was abandoned just over half-way through due to Covid-19 and the impossibility of operating in a socially distant manner.

“Whilst it was hoped that sufficient survey data was available for our Forest Research colleagues to undertake a statistically valid analysis, that turned out not to be the case.”

The number of boar killed was the highest since 2015/16 when 543 animals were culled.

Cllr Brian Robinson (Con, Longhope and Huntley) said he was disappointed Mr Stannard was not at the committee to take questions.

He said that with only 100 culled this summer and with fewer boar killed in road collisions, “we are in for a population explosion.”

He added: “The number of boar are likely to be verging on double what they were the previous year because they are able to reproduce their population in 12 months...so there will a couple of thousand extra boar out there.

“We should ask the Forestry Commission what steps they are going to take to recover this situation because otherwise there will be a significant impact on the community and the Forest’s fauna and flora.

While some boar may be beneficial, when you get too many boar it will. be to the detriment of some other species, some of which are protected and ones that we would not to lose.”

The record cull was welcomed by Cllr James Bevan (Ind, Lydney East) who said he faced a backlash when he previously called for the boar to be “exterminated”.

He said: “I was pleased to read that over 1,000 (have been culled).

“I congratulate Kevin Stannard and his crew for the number they culled last year and hopefully they will be able to put more lead in their muskets and put a few more of these critters away.”

Cllr Alan Preest (Con, Lydney North) said there had been reports of more boar towards the town from the Bream direction.

Chair of the committee Cllr Vilnis Vesma (Lib Dem, Newent and Taynton) said he would write to Forestry England asking for an action plan.