Search operations for wild boar in Yishun continue into day 3

[UPDATE March 11] A massive hunt involving the National Parks Board (NParks), Nee Soon Town Council and the police was still going underway on Friday (March 11) for the rogue wild boar that ran into a pedestrian at Khatib Central on Wednesday evening. 

The search around the vicinity, which started on Wednesday evening, saw at least 30 NParks officers involved in the hunt.

On Friday morning, MP for Nee Soon GRC Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim headed down to Yishun Park to check in on the team involved in the search operation for the wild boar. 

He posted on Facebook that: "The NParks team has confirmed the sighting of the wild boar in Yishun Park and that search is still underway. As such, Yishun Park will remain closed until further notice."

Associate Professor Faishal, the Minister of State for National Development, added that he also visited his resident who was injured by the wild boar at Khatib Central. 

"I am glad that she is recovering well with the support from her husband and family," he wrote.

As of 9am on Friday, search operations were observed to be still ongoing within the park.

The park was still closed to public access, with barricades, cordon tapes and ambassadors at various access points while wardens were still patrolling within the park.

We understand that the wild boar was located within the park on Thursday but attempts to dart it was difficult as the animal, estimated to weigh around 50kg, was moving too fast.

There are three parcels of vegetation within the park and it seems that the animal had been moving from parcel to parcel to evade capture.

An AsiaOne reader who was in the area at 8.40am on Thursday morning said that Yishun Park has been cordoned off to minimise risks to park goers. 

He said that there were at least 10 Town Council staff in Estate Ambassador polo shirts and 10 police officers at the scene.

 

NParks officers were also seen setting up nets around the area.

There were blood stains on the pavement believed to be the boar's blood, indicating that the animal could be injured. 

When contacted, NParks said the wild boar was last observed entering the forest in Yishun Park.

"We are currently searching for it and have closed off Yishun Park for public safety," said the agency.

When the AsiaOne reader was at the park at about 2pm on Thursday, he said that police officers armed with riot shields were also seen in the vicinity. Wild boars are known to be aggressive.

MP for Nee Soon GRC Carrie Tan posted on Facebook on Thursday that Yishun Park is closed off while NParks and the town council work to search for the wild boar.

Describing the incident as "shocking", Tan added: "I wish the injured a speedy recovery."

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On Wednesday evening, a woman was knocked unconscious by the wild boar and she was conveyed to the nearby Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) for medical treatment.

 

Public advisory from NParks

Should members of the public encounter a wild boar, they should

• Remain as calm as possible and move slowly away from the animal.
• Keep a safe distance and do not corner or provoke the animal.
• If adult wild boars are seen with young piglets, keep a distance and leave them alone, as they are potentially aggressive and may attempt to defend their young.
• Members of the public may call the Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 to report any wild boar encounters.

This is a developing story. Please check for more updates.

chingshijie@asiaone.com