On October 24, Xinhua News Agency reported that many farmers in the Changbai Mountain areas of northeast China's Jilin Province are seriously considering hanging up their sickles and rakes and leaving their farms altogether. The reason: wild boars.

In 2003 alone, about 545 hectares of cropland were abandoned by farmers in Helong City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (YKAP), Jilin Province, according to statistics from the local agriculture bureau.

A province-wide resolution prohibiting the hunting of wild animals was passed in 1996 by the Jilin People's Congress, the local legislature, to protect animals such as the Manchurian tiger, the Asiatic black bear and the boar. A special wild animal protection organization was also set up.

As a result of this, the wild animal population has flourished over the last nine years. Wild boar numbers, in particular, have grown markedly.

According to statistics from the YKAP, wild boar numbers increased from 9,079 in 1999 to 16,351 in 2004.

This has led to several problems.

"Boars often come down from the mountains to forage for food during the autumn harvest season," said Li Zhongzhi, a farmer from Xinyuan Village, adding that he had to guard his property against wild boars day and night.

There have been many reports of damaged crops.

According to statistics from the afforestation bureau in Yanbian, 49 townships in all seven counties have reported attacks by wild boars except for the capital city, Yanji. It is estimated that 8,433 hectares of cropland have been damaged. In monetary terms, this is about 36.87 million yuan (about US$4.56 million), with 4,418 yuan (about US$550) worth of crops lost for every hectare damaged.

Attacks on humans have also been reported.

On September 11, two farmers in Longcheng Township were attacked in a cornfield by wild boars and hurt.

On the same day, another farmer was attacked when he climbed a mountain to pick pine mushrooms in Nanping Township, Helong City.

"We can't beat or harness the boars because they are protected animals," said Sun Yuancheng, a farmer from Dongnan Village. "We will be fined if we did," he added.

Farmers have tried everything else to scare or drive the wild boars away; knocking over barrels, using firecrackers and pouring diesel oil around the circumference of their land in the hope that the smell will keep the boars at bay.

Those who have been attacked or have crops damaged by wild boars believe that the government ought to compensate them for their loss.

"It is hard to pay compensation because of the city's very limited funds," Vice Mayor of Helong City Zhou Jinxing said.

"Moreover, we wouldn't know what standards to apply. None has been set by provincial government," Zhou added.

Since 2004, the Yanbian government has handled 87 claims relating to wild boar attacks. Most of the complainants have not received any compensation to date.

These steadily worsening conditions are making many farmers consider leaving their farms altogether and moving away.

(China.org.cn by Unisumoon, November 3, 2005)