Forestry officials in the northeastern Chinese city of Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province, have reduced the number of wild boars to be culled to 40 from 50, a move which appears to be an attempt to placate furious animal rights protestors.

Ten days ago, the provincial authorities gave Mudanjiang and another city, Jixi, the power to kill 50 wild boars each in response to reports that the animals were injuring local residents and damaging crops.

The decision provoked protests from environmentalists and 10,000 people signed a petition in opposition to the slaughter of a species that is under state-level protection.

Although the Mudanjiang officials have torn up ten death warrants for the boars, others may still be removed from their natural habitat.

"We will also try to capture and domesticate the wild boars in order to study their natural behaviour," said Shen Qingyu, deputy director of the Mudanjiang City Forestry Bureau. He did not reveal how many boars would be captured.

Shen also rejected claims that the culling quota was reduced due to pressure from environmental campaigners, citing the fact that the autumn harvest season had passed, which had reduced the danger of the boars destroying the crops.

The Jixi officials are also considering whether or not to lower the number of boars to be killed.

China's wild boar population is estimated to have nearly doubled from 36,000 to 70,000 over the last five years thanks to conservation efforts and better ecological management, according to local forestry authorities.

But the animals have often invaded villagers' homes. Heilongjiang Province has reported 50 cases of attacks on villagers and damage to crops since 2000.

China's law on wild animal protection does not permit the hunting of animals under state protection, which include wild boars. However, the law does not detail what to do when people suffer injuries from wild animal attacks.

Local villagers have complained that they have tried various methods to drive the wild boars away from the villages but haven't succeeded.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)