16 December
A man approaches a group of wild boars rooting up roadside grass in Israel's Haifa, shoeing them away -- but after lazily trotting a few steps, they resume their activity.
Dozens of the beasts have taken up residence in the northern coastal city since it banned culling them.
The wild pigs rip up vegetation and rummage through bins, sparking a fierce debate between animal rights defenders and those in favour of driving them out or killing them.
The city nestles at the foot of the Carmel Mountains, home to boars, foxes, jackals and other animals, all protected by Israeli law.
Boars have long entered Haifa at night looking for food and water.
But residents say in recent months they have been increasingly brazen, blocking traffic, digging up public gardens and even overturning large refuse bins.
Boars, a species of wild pig found across Europe, Asia and North Africa, can grow up to two metres (more than six feet) in length -- although most are smaller.
In Haifa there have been no recent cases of them attacking people, but some residents are concerned.
"They come to our houses and gardens. We're scared for our children," said a woman who gave her name only as Avital.
AFP
