Wild Boar Hunting Team Captain Hopes for Harmony Not Just Hunts

Harmony in the Hunt: A Conversation with a Wild Boar Hunting Team Captain

By [Your Name], Professional Journalist

As autumn deepens, the protectiveembrace of the mountains in Xixia County, Henan Province, becomes a battleground. The Xixia County Farmers and Forest Protection Hunting Service Team,led by Captain Chu Feng, is on the front lines, facing a growing army of wild boars. Their mission: to protect crops and villages from the destructiveforce of these increasingly numerous creatures.

The hunt, however, is not a game. It’s a delicate dance between necessity and responsibility. Chu Feng and his team, armed with hunting dogs, ropes, and short knives, navigate treacherous terrain, facingthe inherent risks of their profession. Their actions are guided by a deep understanding of the delicate balance between human needs and the natural world.

Eight mountains, one river, and one field, Chu Feng explains, describing the county’smountainous terrain. In recent years, the improvement of the ecological environment in Henan Province has led to a surge in the wild boar population. They’ve become a real threat to our farmers’ livelihoods.

The threat is palpable. Estimates suggest that nearly 2,000 wild boars roam the areasurrounding Xixia County, with even larger numbers inhabiting the remote mountain regions. As winter approaches, food becomes scarce, driving the boars closer to human settlements. Fields of corn and sweet potatoes, livestock pens, and even homes become targets for their insatiable appetites.

Farmers are deeply resentful of the wild boars, ChuFeng says. Last winter, our team alone dealt with over sixty boars in just one month.

The team’s actions are not driven by a desire for sport, but by a commitment to protecting the livelihoods of the local community. They are a licensed hunting team, operating under the authority of the Xixia County ForestryBureau. The bureau has issued 292 hunting licenses and formed 17 hunting teams across the county, allowing them to cull the overpopulated wild boar population.

The need for such teams is underscored by the recent removal of wild boars from the list of three-protected animals in China. Thischange, implemented in 2021, provides a legal framework for the formation of hunting teams like Chu Feng’s, enabling them to manage the growing wild boar population.

While the team’s work is essential, Chu Feng emphasizes the importance of finding a harmonious balance. We are not simply hunters, he says. We are guardians of the environment. Our goal is to protect both the farmers and the wild boars.

This delicate balance is reflected in the team’s approach. They use traditional methods, relying on hunting dogs and their own skills to track and subdue the boars. They avoid using firearms, minimizing the risk ofcollateral damage.

We are committed to ensuring the safety of both the farmers and the wild boars, Chu Feng says. We want to find a way to coexist peacefully.

The hunt, then, is not a war, but a negotiation. It’s a testament to the complex relationship between humans andthe natural world, a relationship that demands understanding, respect, and a commitment to finding a way to share the land.

References: