Leefdal (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A hunted wild boar from Leefdaal near Bertem collided with the sliding window frame of a house, which subsequently shattered.
During an intense hunting pursuit in Leefdaal, Belgium, one wild boar escaped by hitting a nearby residence, leaving behind major property destruction while sending residents into shock. Wout suffered a terrifying experience after a wild boar crashed against his sliding window, and the glass broke apart.
“It was a wild boar that had gotten away, that had been chased by the hunt,”
Says Wout.
“A wild boar like that easily weighs a few hundred kilos, so it can cause quite a bit of damage.”
The damage to the house is quite extensive, he says.
“We were standing 2 meters from the window, but fortunately we were not injured. It was very frightening, also for the dog. He doesn’t dare to go outside anymore.”
The wild boar immediately fled and ran into a car on the street, which was also damaged.
“A few hours later they were able to shoot the animal,” Wout knows. “It was already injured when it ran into our window, and injured wild boars can apparently be dangerous.”
In the rural and green Leefdaal, there are quite a few wild boars, but for Wout, it was a first encounter with the animals.
“I had seen tracks, but not a real wild boar. It was a hit right away.”
Wout will close the broken window with wooden panels and insulation material.
“I hope the insurance company will solve this quickly, but that will be fine.”
On the question of whether his house is safe now,
He stated:
“Actually, my garden is well fenced off, except for an opening to the neighbours. We are going to put a gate there now”.
Why are wild boar encounters increasing in Belgium?
The population of wild boars and their spreading habitat have triggered an abrupt increase in their encounters throughout Belgium’s territory. A 50-year absence ended when wild boar returned to Flanders in 2006, and they have successfully established populations throughout fragmented territories, which produces additional human-wildlife contact. According to farmer reports, the farming community in Limburg shows large crop damage due to wild boars, where 42% of the fields remain affected.
The combination of road accidents and disease transmission through African Swine Fever causes additional risks. Hunting programs struggle to control the wild boar populations because of population challenges and ecosystem risks, which make integrated management approaches necessary to achieve ecological benefits and minimise risks.
