Southern U.S. residents aren’t alone in their frustrations with wild pig invasions. Rural Japan is inundated by them and the problem is growing. As the country’s aging population dies or moves from farms, wild pigs quickly move into the abandoned rice patties and buildings. The feral critters have been common in southern parts of the country for years, showing up in train stations, parking garages and even a shopping mall.
Source: Washington Post, March 9, 2018 (paywall).
Because of depopulation, there are more and more abandoned fields and rice paddies. They’re perfect places for wild boars to hide and feed,” said Koichi Kaji, profession of wildlife management at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.
INSIGHTS: We noted the damage wild pigs are causing in the U.S. in December 2016 and November 2017. Because wild pigs are an invasive species, it is important to promote humane population reductions. The challenge appears to be global.