- Increased number of wild boar culled in Rhineland-Palatinate
Hunters in Rhineland-Palatinate, as per the German Press Agency's reports, bagged more wild boars during the 2023-2024 hunting season than the year prior. With approximately 61,600 black pigs, the count was substantially higher by around 16,500 compared to the previous year. The state hunting association in Gensingen attributed this rise to fluctuations in the wild boar population. When a significant number of animals are culled in a year, the population typically decreases the following year due to population reduction. Conversely, the hunting numbers pick up the following year, the spokeswoman explained.
Rhineland-Palatinate marked the first detection of African swine fever in wild boars in July's early days. The disease was subsequently detected in a domestic pig as well.
Among the prominent wild animal species in Rhineland-Palatinate, roe deer and red deer hold the top positions. The statistics show a relatively consistent count of around 105,400 roe deer being hunted in the 2023-2024 season, and approximately 8,500 red deer.
Possums, considered an invasive and non-native species, are experiencing a rise in hunting popularity. The number of possums hunted has nearly tripled compared to the previous season, reaching about 3,300 animals, according to the spokeswoman. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the possum count in hunting bags was only around 200 a decade ago. The increased hunting of this invasive species is a result of the North American opossum's continuous spread in the southwest of Germany. This resilient animal thrives not just in rural areas but also in urban settings, leading to potential damage to buildings, as per the German Hunting Association standing at around 202,000 animals shot nationwide during the 2022-2023 season.
Roe deer and red deer are not the only wild animal species hunted in Rhineland-Palatinate. In fact, Bingen, a town within the state, has also seen an increase in possum hunting.
Following the increase in African swine fever cases in wild boars, the hunting of this species has been strictly regulated in Bingen to prevent further spread.
