As wild boars enter their autumn breeding season, sightings in Busan’s urban areas are rising sharply.

Yet despite the growing number of incidents, the city continues to face major obstacles in capturing the animals due to restrictions introduced last year.

Busan remains designated as a hold zone for firearm captures because it was previously identified as an African swine fever (ASF) risk area. This designation prohibits the use of hunting dogs and prevents the preemptive firearm captures that were once allowed.

According to local media reports, by November 19, Busan had recorded 628 wild boar reports this year.

Recent sightings include a group of seven in Haeundae on October 29 and additional boars in Buk-gu on November 15 and 16. Mountainous districts such as Gijang, Geumjeong, and Gangseo continue to report frequent appearances.

Before the restrictions, private capture teams could conduct preventive operations along known wildlife routes.

Now, firearms may only be used after residents file a formal sighting report, resulting in longer response times.

Hunting dogs, once an essential tool for tracking and driving out boars, are banned entirely because they could carry ASF virus particles on their fur or claws if they encounter an infected animal.

Since these rules took effect, capture numbers have dropped sharply, falling from 803 cases in 2023 to 273 last year, and just 338 so far this year.

With sightings rising but captures limited, district mayors and county chiefs are urging the central government to ease restrictions.

At a recent meeting, Busan’s local leaders approved a formal request asking the Ministry of Environment to lift the firearm hold-zone designation.

Fleet Chinhae