Wild boars increasingly frequent Arrábida beaches and Setúbal streets

Wild boar populations are increasingly encroaching on human spaces in the Arrábida region and the streets of Setúbal, Portugal. The animals have been observed on beaches among tourists and in urban gardens, scavenging for food in trash bins and picnic remains due to a lack of natural food sources.

Experts estimate the local population may be around 3,000 individuals, despite the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) legally culling between 400 and 600 boars annually within the Arrábida Natural Park. The current culling rates appear insufficient to maintain sustainable numbers.

The presence of the animals poses several risks, including the spread of zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis, damage to agriculture, and increased road accidents. Nationally, wild boars are linked to more than 500 traffic accidents per year.