The regional government justifies this measure as essential for road safety and agricultural protection, addressing issues stemming from the species' expansion. Carlos Novillo, the Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Interior, highlighted that wild boars are responsible for 65% of wildlife-related accidents in the region.
Novillo explained that the wild boar population exceeds the ecosystem's carrying capacity and that accurate censusing is difficult, necessitating intervention to maintain natural balance. "We must implement a reduction to avoid breaking this equilibrium," stated the minister, acknowledging that "much remains to be done."
“"The wild boar has been causing us a great many traffic accidents. It is a road safety issue, it is an issue of significant crop damage, and it is an animal safety issue."
Concurrently, the Assembly of Madrid has approved a new Hunting and Fishing Law, promoted by the regional executive. This legislation updates regulations in force since 1970 for hunting and 1942 for fishing, enabling the digitalization of licenses and streamlining administrative processes to facilitate integration with the national license. The region has approximately 45,000 hunting licenses and a similar number for fishing.
The new regulation also aims to enhance safety in the use of the countryside, which is huntable across over 70% of Madrid's territory. Actions that interfere with hunting drives will be penalized to prevent risks, ensuring the safety and rights of hunters, cyclists, and foragers to use these areas.
