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| Special Branch probe boar release | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Special Branch are investigating the release of about 140 wild boar from a farm in Devon. | Special Branch are investigating the release of about 140 wild boar from a farm in Devon. |
| Half the herd have been rounded up after vandals cut through an enclosure and released animals from the farm in Holsworthy for the second time. | |
| The damaged perimeter fence was found at Bramblewood Farm in Rydon Lane at about 0800 GMT. | The damaged perimeter fence was found at Bramblewood Farm in Rydon Lane at about 0800 GMT. |
| Boar farmer John Walker said: "Special Branch were called in last time and are looking at what happened today." | Boar farmer John Walker said: "Special Branch were called in last time and are looking at what happened today." |
| Police and neighbours are helping trace the remaining boar. | Police and neighbours are helping trace the remaining boar. |
| Mr Walker lost about 60 boar after fencing and padlocks were damaged in November 2006. | Mr Walker lost about 60 boar after fencing and padlocks were damaged in November 2006. |
| Animals die | Animals die |
| Mr Walker who owns and runs the boar farm said: "The fencing contractor has just finished repairing the fences. | Mr Walker who owns and runs the boar farm said: "The fencing contractor has just finished repairing the fences. |
| "They're all in the wrong pens, so we're going to have to sort them out and then feed them." | "They're all in the wrong pens, so we're going to have to sort them out and then feed them." |
| He said they expect more boar to be rounded up overnight because hunger would force them closer to their enclosures. | |
| But he added that some animals may die because they are unable to forage in the wild for themselves. | |
| Police are appealing to members of the public to keep away from the animals if spotted and have warned they may charge without any provocation. | |
| Anyone who sees the boar is asked to call police immediately. | Anyone who sees the boar is asked to call police immediately. |
| Police said they were keeping "an open mind" about the motive for the vandalism. | |
| Other herds of wild boar are believed to be roaming free after a number of attacks by animal rights activists to fencing at Allan Dedames' Woodland Wild Boar Farm near South Molton, about 20 miles away from Holsworthy. | Other herds of wild boar are believed to be roaming free after a number of attacks by animal rights activists to fencing at Allan Dedames' Woodland Wild Boar Farm near South Molton, about 20 miles away from Holsworthy. |
| Activists released 102 boar from the farm in December 2005 and another 45 were set loose in a second attack in February 2006. | Activists released 102 boar from the farm in December 2005 and another 45 were set loose in a second attack in February 2006. |
| Mr Dedames lost his appeal in September against North Devon District Council's decision not to reissue him with a Dangerous Wild Animals Licence. | Mr Dedames lost his appeal in September against North Devon District Council's decision not to reissue him with a Dangerous Wild Animals Licence. |