An increase in the numbers of wild boar has led to a rise in complaints about damaged parks and farm land. Also, one man died in January after a collision with a boar on the M4.
The Forestry Commission has undertaken a cull of the feral animals on public land in each of the last six years but introduced a closed season in the spring and early summer amid concerns by the public.
However they have now decided to carry on culling during March.
Kevin Stannard, operations manager at the Forestry Commission, said “We will bring the cull period to an end at the end of March, and then take stock of the position again during the spring and summer."
“We understand both sides of the debate, and aim to manage the population to achieve a stable, healthy core population of around 400 animals.”
Wild boar remain a contentious issue within the forest with many against the idea of culling as a way to solve the problem.
Campaigners against the cull claim the reason not enough boars were being killed was because the estimated population of 819 boars was wrong. They also claim the cull is driving what boars there are into population centres.
The Forestry Commission has not set a target for this year as it does not believe it can reach the preferable population of 400 boar with current resources, but there would be a limit of 419 boar culled.
A new thermal image survey will take place after the cull ends in March in May or June to see if the population has “stabilised”, or is continuing to grow.
A spokesperson for the Forest of Dean District Council said it was the not the responsibility of the council but had agreed to support the Forestry Commission in the cull as part of an agreed management plan to control and maintain a sustainable feral wild boar population.
