Wild boars. Photo: VCG

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration published a notice on its official website on Friday soliciting the public's opinions concerning a new catalog of wild animals adhering to the "three values." The wild boar, which had been listed in the catalog 2000, would be removed from the publication.

The "three values" consider whether a particular wild animal holds ecological, scientific and social value.

The wild boar was removed from a draft of the new list since the species has been increasingly causing hazards, such as damaging agriculture, that interfere with people's lives.   

There have been recent news reports of wild boars entering into urban areas in East China's Jiangsu Province triggering traffic accidents and damaging famers' corn fields in Shiyan, Central China's Hubei Province. 

"The species lives in multiple countries and they are not picky eaters. The animal is highly reproductive and can cause physical or monetary damage by attacking people or damage the fields that are many people's source of income," Xiong Gang, a wild animal expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.  

The purpose of the administration's new proposal is to adjust the existing list so it is better able to maintain biodiversity and ecological balance while considering the social impact animals have on people.   

Before removing the species from the list, the administration launched another measure to set up pilot spots in 14 Chinese provinces and regions, such as South China's Guangdong Province, to manage conflict between people and wild boars. 

Multiple compensation solutions have been initiated at such pilot spots. For instance, in Fujian Province, the loss of cash crops caused by wild boars can be reimbursed through agricultural insurance. 

While the wild boar is to be removed from the list, 187 species and eight genera of insects will still be included, bringing the list to a total of 1,789 species of land animals. 

"Such a move should be seen as adapting to current issues, but it does not suggest that the wild boars can now be killed in large numbers," said wild animal researcher to media.