A BOY who was taken to hospital after a wild boar reportedly chased and injured him in Punggol has returned home.
The boy, whose age is unknown, was taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital on Sunday after the Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to an incident at Block 184 Edgefield Plains at 2.17pm and dispatched an ambulance.
However, it was not clear what injuries the boy suffered.
When approached at his flat on Monday, the boy’s father would only say that his son had returned home and was feeling better, reported The New Paper.
Meanwhile, several people also said they spotted the creature in the neighbourhood.
A Facebook post by user Joanne Wan on Sunday night claimed that a wild boar about 1m in size had been spotted at the same block.
“It was last seen fleeing near Meridian LRT,” she added.
Reuters, The Straits Times, Facebook screengrabs, Law Ing Sind, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Marcus Chua
Related: Wild boars sighted in Punggol
A wild boar was also sighted in the vicinity by a contributor to citizen journalism website Stomp at around 3.30pm on the same day. She said the animal had dashed in front of a lorry she was in, near Block 106B.
In response to queries, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said it had received feedback on wild boar sightings in the Punggol area and was conducting control operations.
“Members of the public who encounter wild boars should stay calm and not approach the animal,” said a spokesman.
The presence of wild boars in the area is not new.
Last year, residents of Edgefield Plans also complained to the AVA regarding wild boars, with some even resorting to carrying wooden sticks to defend themselves.
A recent joint advisory by the AVA, National Parks Board (NParks) and Wildlife Reserves Singapore states that the wild boar is native to Singapore. It can weigh up to 100kg and has a lifespan of over 20 years.
The advisory said the animals are increasingly spotted all over the island in recent years, due to their quick reproduction rates, presence of ideal foraging habitats and the lack of natural predators.
“Although they appear shy, they are still wild animals and are unpredictable in behaviour which could pose a risk to public safety,” the advisory said.
“Like many other wild animals, wild boars will only attack if they are cornered or if they feel threatened.”
The three tips when one encounters wild boars are:
Be calm and move slowly away from the animal. Do not approach or attempt to feed the animal;
Keep a safe distance and do not corner or provoke the animal, such as using a flash while taking pictures of it;
If you see adults with young piglets, leave them alone. These are potentially more dangerous because they may attempt to protect their young.
mklee@sph.com.sg
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