Wild boar runs amok in village funeral parlour. Credit: archive image
A giant wild boar weighing around 100kg caused chaos in a small French village after charging through the streets, smashing its way into a funeral parlour and leaving two people terrified after a face-to-face encounter.
The extraordinary incident happened in Salviac, in the Lot department of south-west France, on Sunday, November 1, when the animal was apparently startled during a hunting expedition and headed towards the village instead of escaping into the surrounding countryside.
According to French newspaper La Depeche du Midi, people sitting outside the village’s La Poste bar had to rush indoors as the enormous animal came charging down the street.
Boar crashes into funeral business
The animal then crossed the road and repeatedly charged at the entrance to a funeral business, eventually smashing through its glass doors. Owner Catherine Figeac was inside meeting a client when the boar burst into the reception area. The pair suddenly found themselves face to face with the animal, which was so large that its back repeatedly struck the top of her 90cm-high desk.
Terrified, Catherine climbed onto her chair and shouted warnings to people outside as the boar charged through the premises. Although it damaged the entrance and some equipment, neither she nor her client was injured.
The animal subsequently headed towards a nearby restaurant, where it also attempted to force its way through the entrance before eventually fleeing towards the Dégagnac road. Members of the local hunting association later visited the funeral business and arranged for its insurance to cover the damage.
Wild boar increasingly close to homes
The incident has also drawn attention to the growing presence of wild boar around residential communities. A follow-up report by La Depeche on November 12 quoted the president of the Lot Departmental Hunters’ Federation, Michel Bouscary, who said encounters between the animals and residents were becoming increasingly common.
The problem is not confined to France. Wild boar have become a familiar sight in parts of Spain, particularly around the Costa del Sol, where easy access to food and water has encouraged them into built-up areas. Euro Weekly News has previously reported on wild boar running along the A-7 motorway in Mijas, as well as growing concerns over their presence in Fuengirola.
The Spanish government’s national hunting management strategy advises people who encounter wild boar not to run, approach the animals or feed them. Instead, they should leave an escape route and alert the authorities if necessary. Its guidance is particularly relevant to anyone walking dogs or living close to woodland and open countryside.
The Salviac incident ended without injuries, but it was a frightening reminder of what can happen when large wild animals suddenly find themselves in the middle of a residential community.
