(Hai Fe) - After a period of a significant decrease in the presence of wild pigs in neighborhoods and public areas in Haifa, in recent weeks residents are beginning to report the return of pigs to areas where they have not been seen for months. The trend raises many questions among the public: Is this a renewed increase in the number of wild boars? And what are the meanings for the city and its residents?
Pigs dismantle a fenced gate on Shoham Street
Davidi Shemesh, a resident of Haifa, tells in a conversation with haipo: "In recent weeks, I have been encountering wild boars mainly in the morning and noon, much less at night. They seem to have lost all fear of humans. The video I took recently was recorded during the day. Many litters are expected soon, as the spring season, between the months of March and May, is the littering season. Every year I see the females release a multitude of little puppies onto the streets of the city, and I expect it to happen again this year as well."
As you may recall, Mayor Yona Yahav announced during his election campaign that within 90 days of taking office, wild boars would disappear from public areas and neighborhoods in Haifa. Despite the skepticism of some residents, there was indeed a significant decrease in the presence of pigs throughout the city. Residents reported weeks and even months when wild boars were not seen. However, in recent weeks, the picture is changing: more and more residents are reporting pigs roaming here and there again in the streets and neighborhoods. "We thought it was behind us," said an estate resident, "but now they are coming back, which is worrying."
A budget of one and a half million even if the pigs are gone ► Watch
A significant budget without detail
At the city council meeting held on 31/12/24, the municipal budget for 2025 was approved, which includes an allocation of 1.5 million shekels to deal with the problem of wild pigs. However, the budget does not include details about the use of funds. City Council member Zev Sanenzon raised a question on the subject, but no clear answer was received. Even in the budget book, there is no specific reference to the nature of the actions planned within the budget.
Questions forwarded to the municipality on the subject, such as what was the budget for the care of pigs in 2024 and what actions are the budgets intended for in 2025, remained unanswered.
Experts in the field raise the possibility that the renewed presence of wild boars is related to the calving period, when they tend to be found more in hidden areas such as wadis, but may also come to neighborhoods in search of food. The question of whether this is a temporary trend or a recurring problem bothers many residents.
Residents' concerns and the municipality's response
"When the pigs disappeared, we felt safer again," said a resident of Carmelia, adding, "Now we are afraid again. The municipality must act in a clear and transparent manner to maintain the achievements."
On the other hand, environmental activists remind that the wild boars are an integral part of the regional nature, and that the solutions should include consideration of the ecological balance. "We need to find ways to deal with it that will not harm the animals themselves," said one of the activists.

The questions forwarded to the municipality remain open
- Is the renewed presence of pigs related to changes in seasons or management policies?
- How does the municipality intend to use the budget designated for 2025?
- Are there long-term measures to preserve the achievements and ensure the safety of the residents?
The municipality chose to respond with this response instead of answering the questions: "The municipality of Haifa acted, as promised, to reduce the conflict between the wild boars and the residents. As a result of this activity, most of the wild boars disappeared from the city's neighborhoods and returned to their natural place in the wadis and the Carmel forests. This fact is also reflected in the small number of inquiries received on the subject in the municipality and in the sharp decline that occurred, among other things, in the overturning of trash cans The garbage by the wild boars.


Although wild boars were shot three previous terms and their number increased, as explained in studies around the world and even by local ecologists. Shooting increases the birth rate, pregnant females are younger. Despite this, residents were assured that this time there would be no wild boars in Haifa within 90 days. Reports from all over the city of animals wallowing in blood and dying at night in front of terrified families were brought to court. The leaders of the sector do not rely on past experience or long-term research on the subject. The public is being misled by a promise that has no substance. Even amid alarms and interceptions, the shooting continued in the streets. The following are the words of the ecologist of the Haifa municipality, who was elected to the position during the Klish era and focused on studying the problem in collaboration with the ecologist of the RTG:…… "In a conversation with the Review on June 11.6.2020, XNUMX, the municipal ecologist explained that the size of the wild boar population is regulated by available food. Although there is enough food in the natural area, the balance has been disrupted by pull factors such as water and available food in the city. Therefore, in the city, pigs grow faster, weigh more, and reach fertility faster thanks to the food available in the city.
5. In her response to the issue of wild boar culling, which was completely stopped by the mayor on August 31.8.2019, 28.6.20, she noted that studies have been conducted that indicate a connection between "stress" caused by shooting and overpopulation in pigs, and in fact creating the opposite effect. According to her, a review of the culling reports shows that over the years there has been an increase in the amount of culling, but the requests from residents have not decreased. Therefore, in her view, culling as a single tool is not an effective tool, nor is it very expensive, and does not constitute a solution. According to her, the RTA allows culling wild boars in order to prevent poisoning by humans, because in their view, culling by itself is an ineffective tool. However, in a conversation with the review on June XNUMX, XNUMX, she noted that she intends to develop, in collaboration with the RTA, criteria for spot culling in the event of an attack or in the case of an injured pig.
The ecologist is no longer concerned with the issue of wild boars. Why?
From the Municipal Auditor:
Apparently they lived in the past before the construction of the buildings in these areas and the descendants return where the parents bequeathed them.
Or there is a reason I am not aware of.
A live newspaper here, you have a significant part in the situation you describe!!
For years you have been publishing false and one-sided articles, inciting an entire public and creating unnecessary and destructive panic.
The damage you caused is enormous - both to the wild boars and to the residents!
Live here, you are partners in crime!!
I live here with the name ZB ‼️
The work of the municipality should be continued and all the wild boars should be eliminated as they started this blessed work and finish it quickly. The elimination of the phenomenon completely.
People like you are a phenomenon (extremely negative)
I wanted there to be as few as possible!!
Only continued aggressive thinning, there is no substitute for it.
400 cities in the world carry out a systematic thinning of the wild boars every year, this is a process that must be regular every year during the littering seasons to maintain stable numbers and prevent entry into neighborhoods
If there are again many such mature individuals in the neighborhoods, it means that they were not diluted during the calving season.
You need to change the site name to "metpo". Haifa is a sad city with a mayor who is not aware of himself or the environment
Put an address and we will load some on a truck and send them to your garden to grow them at your place
We don't want them with us, what's not clear?
The residents of Haifa are the most cowardly and scoundrel people in the country. Escape from the city The people are the biggest danger in the city!! Ignorant and corrupt
I have no problem with the wild pigs in Haifa.
With the pigs in the government, I have- when will we get rid of them?
I also have a problem with the pigs in the supermarkets, the importers and the manufacturers who raise prices during the war.
I also have a problem with the pigs in the precision market, who think they can knock down prices in the war for our displaced people and enjoy the nomads.
Unlike the wild pigs, with certain other pigs I have no problem with thinning.
A fence for a shekel and a half
The main problem is the residents of Haifa who want to keep the pigs but in the neighbor's yard... I recommend wholesale sterilization and the problem will disappear next winter
The imaginations of the residents of Haifa are the most dangerous thing in Israel 🤦🏼
Diluting, diluting and diluting again. A few weeks ago I saw from the balcony of my house a mating in Wadi. I was hoping to hear a gunshot but unfortunately I didn't and almost certainly the family will come to sunbathe in the garden soon. A terrible blow.
Did you enjoy the show?
Experts and environmental activists warned in advance that thinning would not work. Maybe it's time for the Haifa municipality to act in a more professional and less cruel way?
They said years ago that eliminating pigs increases litters and the number of pigs increases instead of decreasing, it is best not to try to thin them out.
Mr. Yona Yahav. I ask that pigs not be allowed to roam around in public places again. There was a break of several months and now they are back again. They are dangerous and harmful. Their place is in nature, not in the city. Please act so they don't come back.
You're right, but when you reduce their natural area, this is what happens. It is easier to find food "in a natural area" with trash cans...
Let them live!!!
Bring Chinese, they need food.
You probably didn't get bitten by one. Most of the time I agree with this statement, only that this time it happened to someone with a torn muscle, different kinds of physical therapy that is expected of him
I saw helpers on Mitzpe Street (near the turn) in Haifa. For the care of Haifa Municipality. Good and blessed night to all.
On Saturday at noon I went up the stairs between Dolchin Street and Mitzpe Street (near the roundabout) and there was a huge pig.
Luckily, he was moving away and entered the Fatanah area below the Tel Hai school.
I don't want to imagine how it would have ended if he had come in front of me and panicked like me.
The pigs and their offspring are hungry and thirsty, the wild areas are too dry of food and water.
Their wild areas should be fertilized and/or food should be thrown at them from the leftovers of the food industry.