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After weeks of wild boar sightings across Cartagena, the Ministry of the Environment has now taken decisive action - installing cages to capture the animals that have been roaming through the city.

 

It’s the latest step in a problem that’s been rumbling on since the summer. Back in August, neighbours in areas such as La Concepción and Nueva Cartagena began sharing videos of wild boars wandering through the streets at night. This was the first time many locals had seen them venture so far into the city.

 

The situation escalated in September, when officials confirmed that any animals caught inside urban zones would have to be shot, as European law prohibits their relocation. By early October, the sightings had become an almost daily occurrence, with residents filming herds crossing busy roads, rummaging through bins and even cooling off in flooded plots near Avenida del Cantón after heavy rain. 

 

The new cages are part of a carefully managed capture plan run jointly by the Ministry and Cartagena City Council. Regional Environment Councillor Juan María Vázquez confirmed that the first trap has already been installed. “The cage is already in place, but this isn’t a one-day matter,” a spokesperson said. “Once they’ve been baited in the area, we have to continue, but with the cage in place.”

 

Early estimates suggest around thirty wild boars may be roaming the area. Cartagena councillor José Ramón Llorca, who is leading the local operation, hopes the situation will be resolved by the end of the month. He explained that the herd seen in recent viral clips appears to be led by an older male, accompanied by younger animals.

 

The capture protocol involves several stages. Officers first lay bait to attract the animals and monitor how they respond, which can take up to ten days. Once the traps are set and the animals are caught, EU legislation means they cannot be relocated and must instead be put down. Their carcasses are then removed by a specialist waste company.

 

Officials continue to remind residents not to approach the boars, particularly when walking dogs. Though usually harmless, they can react unpredictably if startled or protecting young.

 

One local driver described a close encounter near the Cartagonova stadium, where a city bus narrowly missed a herd late one evening. “I stopped in time, but they didn’t even seem scared,” he said.

 

For now, the cages are Cartagena’s best hope of bringing the months-long wild boar saga to an end. although locals will be watching closely to see whether they finally do the trick.

 

 

Image: Sorin Tincu/Pexels