An investigation is underway after a man was filmed dragging piglets away in a net in Marbella.
The man was allegedly working for the town hall’s health department (referred to as Sanidad).
Footage shows the young specimens squealing as they are dragged across the ground in a net before being put in the back of a white van.
The clips sparked a fierce debate online over the wild boar population, which has been ballooning in size along the Costa del Sol.
When contacted by the Spanish Eye, the Guardia Civil’s Seprona force said it had sent a patrol to investigate and that there had already been several denuncias made.
Hundreds of people commented on the video after it was uploaded to the @marbellasequeja Instagram page.
Most were left fuming by the seemingly cruel treatment on behalf of the town hall worker.
However, some said that they needed to understand his health was at risk.
Wild boars in Malaga pose a growing risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases (from animals to humans), notably hepatitis E, salmonella, and trichinosis, according to recent studies.
Their increasing presence in urban areas makes the danger of contagion grow, although African Swine Fever (ASF) does not affect humans.
All residents are advised to not feed the wild boar and to avoid direct contact with animals, whether alive or dead.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
