French wild boar facing death gets relief

Animal rights campaigners in France are celebrating after a pet wild boar facing death threat was allowed to live with its owner.

The pig, named Rilette, was found in 2023 by Elodie Cappe as a piglet at her small horse-breeding farm in Chaures, central France, after its mother had apparently abandoned it.

Local authorities had refused to grant Ms Cappe the necessary permission to keep a wild animal. Because no sanctuary could be found to take Rilet, she faced the possibility of being euthanized.

A French court has now ruled that the authority’s decision should be re-examined.

Ms Cappe’s husband thought it was a joke when she came home on April 1 – April Fools’ Day – with the piglets – which they later fostered.

She told the BBC that she initially tried to release Rilet back into the wild, but the boar came running back.

“He is happy here,” Ms. Cappe said.

Wild boars can spread diseases and cause problems for farmers due to their size. Weighing in at 60-100kg, they are capable of knocking down fences, damaging fields and killing livestock, according to the Woodland Trust.

While attacks on humans are rare, wild boars have been seen roaming towns and cities across Europe – leading authorities in several countries to authorize killing.

When Ms Cappe’s local authority refused to allow her to keep a wild animal – and was unable to find a sanctuary that could take the large animal – she was faced with two options.

She could have given the pig to a woman who trained animals for movies for profit, or had Rilette euthanized – neither of which she wanted.

Ms Cappe describes Rilet as her “best friend” – whom she hugs and caresses.

“We both play a lot. I learn a lot of things. She knows how to sit (on command), lie down, play with dogs.

“She joins us for horseback riding. She sleeps with the dogs. She’s a clown! She spends her days doing silly things to play.”

However, possessing the pigs meant Ms Cappe risked a three-year prison sentence and a €150,000 (£127,000) fine.

His appeal to the French court attracted worldwide attention. He said that while fighting the case, he received calls from Germany, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada and America.

Rilet’s story has been compared to a case in the US last year involving a pet squirrel named Peanut, who had a massive following on social media. It was suppressed by the authorities, leading to outrage.

In France, animal rights activist and film star, Brigitte Bardot, joined the campaign to save Rilet.

A court in the nearby city of Chalons-en-Champagne has now ruled that authorities should reconsider Ms Cappe’s original application.

According to Reuters, he was also ordered to pay her €15,000 (£12,700) in damages.

The judge stated that “although the capture of live wild boars in the forest is prohibited in principle, the prefect still has the power to authorize it”.

Ms Cappe was overjoyed when her lawyer announced the verdict: “I started partying – I screamed very loudly because I was so happy.”

She said she was going to buy a cake and drink champagne, explaining that cake, along with apples, is one of her pet’s favorite foods.

Additional reporting by Alex Phillips