Wild boars have increased tenfold in Europe since the 1950s because of changes in agriculture, the lack of predators and a fall in hunting. For the past 40 years, they have been living in the suburbs of Berlin. In spring, they give birth in gardens, parks and churchyards, and their population reaches about 4,000. I followed this sow for three days. One morning, she carefully led her five-day-old piglets through the streets for the first time. The family crossed a main road, and then walked past a bus stop, a supermarket and a playground before settling down to rest. Fascinating picture of a sow suckling her piglets in the middle of surburban Berlin. Many thanks to Jerzy Dyczkowski for allerting us to this. The text and picture are from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2003 on their site at
Jerzy writes: "Not British, but picture of urban wild boar from Berlin was highly commended in British Wildlife Photographer 2003 competition. I hope this photo finally dispells myths that wild boars cannot live in densely populated areas. Just look at this sow suckling piglets by the car in suburban Berlin".
When not continually shot at or harassed, wild boar (as seen here in Poland) can become quite tame and urbanised. They are obviously not the killing machines they are often made out to be, but remember with all animals (wild or domestic) there is always that element of unpredicatability. (ownership of photographs unknown, please advise on legality of use).