An injured wild boar piglet with an arrow lodged in it was seen on Saturday in a residential area of Mijas. The Town Hall and Seprona are searching for it, but hopes of finding it alive are dwindling.
The image of a piglet pierced by an arrow wandering through a Mijas urbanisation has gone viral on social media. This occurred last Saturday afternoon when several neighbours alerted the Town Hall of Mijas about the presence of the injured animal in a residential area on the coast of the municipality. Since then, a patrol from the Animal Welfare department and members of the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) of the Civil Guard have been scouring the area without success.
An injured animal and a crime under scrutiny
The chances of finding the animal alive are decreasing as time passes, according to municipal sources consulted by Efe. Nevertheless, the search continues. The arrow that pierces the piglet may have been shot from a bow, a weapon whose use in urban areas or their surroundings is prohibited by law. The Arms Regulation in Spain limits its use to approved shooting ranges, federated clubs, or licensed hunting grounds.
The person who shot the animal could face a charge of animal abuse, according to sources from Seprona. Current legislation, which has been tightened in recent years, includes prison sentences for those who cause serious harm to domestic or wild animals.
Mobilisation of associations and volunteers
The case has sparked a wave of outrage among animal rights and environmental groups. The Andalusian Association for the Defence of Animals (ASANDA) and the Platform for the Abolition of Hunting have echoed the news. The entity Free Fox Spain has offered to coordinate volunteer hunts for those who want to join the search.
Additionally, several veterinarians have offered to operate on the piglet for free to remove the arrow if it is eventually located alive. Community collaboration is proving crucial, although experts remind that the animal, frightened and injured, may be unpredictable.
For the residents of Mijas, the incident has reopened the debate on the coexistence between wildlife and residential areas. Urban expansion on the Costa del Sol has reduced the natural habitat of species like the wild boar, which are increasingly venturing further in search of food. The Town Hall reminds that, in the event of sightings of injured animals, it is best to call 112 and not attempt to intervene on one's own.
The search continues, and in the meantime, the image of the injured piglet keeps circulating on WhatsApp and social media. Hopefully, it will be found in time for the veterinarian to fulfil their promise.
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