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France: Joy as wild boar facing death allowed to stay with owner | |
(25 days later) | |
Wild boar can stay with owner after campaign, French court rules | Wild boar can stay with owner after campaign, French court rules |
Animal rights campaigners in France are celebrating after a wild boar facing the threat of death was allowed to stay with its owner. | Animal rights campaigners in France are celebrating after a wild boar facing the threat of death was allowed to stay with its owner. |
The boar, named Rillette, was found in 2023 as a piglet by Elodie Cappé on her horse-breeding smallholding in Chaource, central France, after apparently being abandoned by its mother. | The boar, named Rillette, was found in 2023 as a piglet by Elodie Cappé on her horse-breeding smallholding in Chaource, central France, after apparently being abandoned by its mother. |
Local authorities had refused Ms Cappé the permission required to keep a wild animal. Unable to find a sanctuary to take Rillette, she faced the possibility of having to get it euthanised. | Local authorities had refused Ms Cappé the permission required to keep a wild animal. Unable to find a sanctuary to take Rillette, she faced the possibility of having to get it euthanised. |
A French court has now ruled the authority's decision must be re-examined. | A French court has now ruled the authority's decision must be re-examined. |
Ms Cappé's husband thought it was a joke when she came home with the baby boar on 1 April - April Fool's Day - which she then raised. | Ms Cappé's husband thought it was a joke when she came home with the baby boar on 1 April - April Fool's Day - which she then raised. |
She told the BBC she had initially tried to release Rillette back into the wild, but the boar came running back. | She told the BBC she had initially tried to release Rillette back into the wild, but the boar came running back. |
"She's happy here," Ms Cappé said. | "She's happy here," Ms Cappé said. |
Wild boars can carry diseases and cause a nuisance to farmers because of their size. Weighing between 60-100kg, according to the Woodland Trust, they are capable of knocking down fences, damaging fields and killing livestock. | Wild boars can carry diseases and cause a nuisance to farmers because of their size. Weighing between 60-100kg, according to the Woodland Trust, they are capable of knocking down fences, damaging fields and killing livestock. |
While attacks on humans are rare, wild boars have increasingly been spotted roaming towns and cities across Europe - prompting officials to authorise culls in several countries. | While attacks on humans are rare, wild boars have increasingly been spotted roaming towns and cities across Europe - prompting officials to authorise culls in several countries. |
Rillette is a form of French potted meat, which inspired the sow's name | Rillette is a form of French potted meat, which inspired the sow's name |
When Ms Cappé's local authority refused her permission to keep the wild animal - and unable to find a sanctuary that would take the sizeable beast - she faced two options. | When Ms Cappé's local authority refused her permission to keep the wild animal - and unable to find a sanctuary that would take the sizeable beast - she faced two options. |
She could give the boar to a woman who trained animals for films for profit, or Rillette would be euthanised - neither of which she wanted to happen. | She could give the boar to a woman who trained animals for films for profit, or Rillette would be euthanised - neither of which she wanted to happen. |
Ms Cappé described Rillette - whom she cuddles and strokes - as her "best friend". | Ms Cappé described Rillette - whom she cuddles and strokes - as her "best friend". |
"We both play a lot. I learn a lot of things. She knows how to sit [on command], lie down, play with dogs. | "We both play a lot. I learn a lot of things. She knows how to sit [on command], lie down, play with dogs. |
"She joins us for horse rides. She sleeps with the dogs. She's a clown! She spends her days doing silly things to play." | "She joins us for horse rides. She sleeps with the dogs. She's a clown! She spends her days doing silly things to play." |
Keeping the boar, though, meant Ms Cappé risked a three-year jail sentence and a €150,000 (£127,000) fine. | Keeping the boar, though, meant Ms Cappé risked a three-year jail sentence and a €150,000 (£127,000) fine. |
Her appeal to a French court gained worldwide attention. She said she received calls from Germany, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada and the US while fighting the case. | Her appeal to a French court gained worldwide attention. She said she received calls from Germany, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada and the US while fighting the case. |
Rillette's story has drawn comparisons with a case in the US last year, in which a tame squirrel named Peanut that had had a large following on social media was put down by the authorities, sparking outcry. | Rillette's story has drawn comparisons with a case in the US last year, in which a tame squirrel named Peanut that had had a large following on social media was put down by the authorities, sparking outcry. |
Ms Cappé, says Rillette "listens better than my dogs", responding to her name | Ms Cappé, says Rillette "listens better than my dogs", responding to her name |
In France, the animal rights activist and film star, Brigitte Bardot, joined the campaign to save Rillette. | In France, the animal rights activist and film star, Brigitte Bardot, joined the campaign to save Rillette. |
A court in the nearby city of Châlons-en-Champagne has now ruled that the authorities must reconsider Ms Cappé's original application. | A court in the nearby city of Châlons-en-Champagne has now ruled that the authorities must reconsider Ms Cappé's original application. |
It also ordered them to pay her €15,000 (£12,700) in damages, according to Reuters. | It also ordered them to pay her €15,000 (£12,700) in damages, according to Reuters. |
The judge said that "although the capture of live wild boars in the wild is in principle prohibited, the prefect nevertheless still has the power to authorise it". | The judge said that "although the capture of live wild boars in the wild is in principle prohibited, the prefect nevertheless still has the power to authorise it". |
Ms Cappé was ecstatic when her lawyer relayed the decision: "I started partying - I screamed very loud as I was very happy." | Ms Cappé was ecstatic when her lawyer relayed the decision: "I started partying - I screamed very loud as I was very happy." |
She said she was going to buy a cake and drink champagne, explaining that cake, along with apples, are one of her pet's favourite foods. | She said she was going to buy a cake and drink champagne, explaining that cake, along with apples, are one of her pet's favourite foods. |
Additional reporting by Aleks Phillips | Additional reporting by Aleks Phillips |