Wild boar with arrow through side seen in Mijas Costa residential area

A young wild boar with a metal arrow over a meter long pierced through its side was seen walking with its mother and herd in a residential area of Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa (Málaga) on Saturday evening. Despite multiple calls to the local police, no authorities or animal control personnel responded before sunset. Source: El Mundo

The incident

Witnesses described the boar limping and grunting in pain. Dale, a tourist from Northern Ireland, was among the first to call the police, along with local residents Gayané and Romik, who said they were used to seeing boars but not in such distress. “He is suffering and someone has to do something,” Gayané said, crying. Another couple, Francisco and Tamara, stopped their car upon seeing the scene. Source: Infobae/EFE

Context and controversy

Wild boars have become a plague in coastal Málaga, often entering urban areas for food and water. In response, some municipalities have adopted extreme measures. According to the Red Ecologista Malagueña, Mijas town hall contracted archers two years ago to cull the population, a method critics call cruel. Ecologists argue that since boars are not a protected species, they are “completely unprotected,” and advocate for less drastic alternatives. [Sources: El Mundo, Infobae/EFE]