Report from Reuel Chisholm
Boar roams no more, but who pulled the trigger?
From the Strathspey Herald 4 th December 2002
He said: "The police are flattering me. I would have been honoured to have shot the first wild boar in Scotland for 200 years, but it was not me."
He continued: "I am glad it has been found as it has killed pheasants on my land and hens at Cluny. Wild boars are ferocious beasts."
The wild boar, complete with tusks, evaded capture by the long arm of the law on Friday night by charging a fence.
The creature was seen on the A86 near Cluny by Wildlife Liaison Officer Andrew Irvine and WPC Lara Campbell whilst they carried out night-shift patrols between Laggan and Newtonmore at around midnight.
PC Irvine said: "We were coming towards Newtonmore and came round the corner to see a large boar in the middle of the road.
"We were surprised to say the least. If I hadnÕt seen it with my own eyes I wouldnÕt have believed it.
"The boar was running around across the road and onto the verge. Since it was a road safety hazard we had to do something."
The pair were joined by nearby farmer Mr Steven Millar, and the fearless trio watched the animal cavort across the road while they waited for help from the Highland Wildlife Park to arrive to assist in catching the boar.
The popular attraction had wanted to make the two-year-old male its latest star, but before park manager Mr Jeremy Usher-Smith had arrived the boar made another bolt for freedom and vanished into the night.
PC Irvine said: "Unfortunately, before Jeremy Usher-SmithÕs arrival, the boar barged through a wire fence and took off into the woods towards Craig Dhu."
A search to find the beast failed, and a warning was issued to the public not to approach the animal because it could turn aggressive if it felt threatened.
The boar was described as three to four feet long and around three feet high, with a distinctive humped back and tusks.
PC Irvine said that it was not clear whether the boar had escaped from a pen or was indeed wild.
"Some people keep wild boars as exotic pets but none have been reported missing," he said.
"Wild boars are very powerful animals and could do a lot of damage. We were very concerned that one was on the loose."
He added that since the initial boar sighting a report had been received that a similar creature had been seen by fishermen last year at Laggan.
Wild boars were an indigenous species in this country until they were hunted to extinction hundreds of years ago. Most of the boars which are roaming the British countryside are escapees.
The drama came to an apparent end on Saturday night with a call allegedly from Sir Tommy MacPherson, claiming he had killed the boar after it wandered onto his land. Police have seen the boar and confirmed that it is dead but refused to say where they had seen it, and they have not seized the body.
A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "A telephone call was received at Kingussie police station from Sir Tommy MacPherson, who stated he had shot the boar on his ground at Baillidbeg, near Newtonmore.
"As the boar is a species included in the 'Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976', Sir Tommy was perfectly within his rights to shoot the boar as it was on his property.
"As yet no person has come forward to claim ownership of the boar." But quizzed by the "Strathy" yesterday (Tuesday), Sir Tommy denied putting an end to the boar's adventure.
The Oxford Blue has lead a colourful life, being a talented sportsman in his younger years.He became a Scottish Commando in 1940, but was captured and spent two years as a PoW before escaping in 1943. He then served as a Major with Special Forces with French and Italian Resistance.After the war he enjoyed an illustrious career with the military and in the business world. From 1964-67 he served as a member of The QueenÕs Bodyguard for Scotland.
In August this year, a boar nicknamed McQueen, after the famous actor who appeared in "The Great Escape", bolted from a slaughterhouse in Dunblane, Perthshire. The 18-stone beast is still on the run.
Another escapee was captured at Broughty Ferry after heading out to sea to dodge slaughter. After being chased for 90 minutes by police, it was finally roped by a lifeboat and killed.
© Strathspey Herald, 4 th December 2002
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