Eight people were ordered to pay fines today for feeding wild boars in the Lorong Halus wetlands, behavior thought to have contributed to the mauling of a woman last year.
The group, half of whom pleaded guilty in court for feeding the animals in the past two months, were the first of nearly 20 people busted by cops patrolling the Pasir Ris neighborhood after a wild boar’s bloody attack injured a woman’s leg and face in November. They were ordered to pay S$2,500 (US$1,900) fines.
The other four defendants are expected to enter pleas at a hearing next month, with more suspects to be charged in the coming weeks.
Officers from the National Parks Board were patrolling Pasir Ris following the Nov. 17 attack in which the wild hog attacked the woman. Lorong Halus is about 4 kilometers from where she was attacked.
Wild boar sightings have grown common in the area as humans intrude into their domain by clearing land for condominium projects, as well as the opening of nearby Coney Island. At least 10 boars were recently spotted roaming Lorong Halus.
Park officials have said that feeding and leaving food scraps could draw wild boars to the area. The boars, which can weigh up to 100 kilograms, have also come into bloody contact with people in nearby Punggol, as well as Bukit Batok and Chua Chu Kang in the west.
First-time offenders can be fined up to S$5,000 or S$10,000 for subsequent offenses under the Wildlife Act.
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