Wild Boar Followed Cyclist at Pulau Ubin & Even Made Off With Curry Puffs

It appears that Singapore may soon become the unofficial Nation of the Wild Boars.

Mere days after a ferocious wild boar first launched an attack in Pasir Ris, another critter has come under the media spotlight.

And this time, it has occurred on Palau Ubin, an island known for its thriving population of wild boars.

Wild Boar Followed Cyclist at Pulau Ubin & Even Made Off With Curry Puffs

One woman’s cycling trip on Palau Ubin soon turned a little boarish, when she was “assaulted” by a starving feral hog.

In a video that has been circulating on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram since Sunday (22 Nov), the woman, who’s named Trisha, could be seen moving her bicycle around as the wild boar advanced towards her.

The struggle would go on for seconds, as the pair circled each other like gladiators in a bloodthirsty arena.

Despite Trisha’s attempts to keep the hog at bay, however, it ultimately succeeded in its endeavour.

The curry puffs inside the plastic bag, at long last, were the feral hog’s to consume.

Satisfied with its haul, the wild boar then retreated into the forest, where it would probably share the puffs with its family of eight and perhaps a web-saavy spider named Charlotte.

You can view the full video here:

Clarification

Hours after the video went viral, Trisha went onto Facebook to offer her side of things.

In the post, she clarified that she was not harmed, and that the clip stemmed from her cycling trip on Palau Ubin over the weekend.

Apparently, the plastic bag contained curry puffs, and had belonged to her friend. As her basket was full, Trisha helped to carry it in her own basket.

They then rode to Chek Jawa, where a boar approached just as she was about to park her bike.

Trisha shared that it was not her first boar encounter, and so she knew what to do. Adopting a calm demeanour, she made sure not to hurt the critter as she formed a barrier with the bike.

However, she was not aware at that point that the boar was actually after the food.

According to her, she only realised it when the boar got uncomfortably close to the basket. But by then, it was too late to throw the bag away as it was out of her reach.

Thankfully, the boar proved satisfied with the bag, and nothing malicious of nature happened.

The rubbish was also eventually cleared.

At the end of the post, Trisha advised tourists not to bring food to the island if possible, as the smell may be detected by wild animals.

If it’s necessary, visitors should make sure to pack food in airtight containers – a notion that Netizens have since reiterated.

Trisha was also commended for her bravery in dealing with the animal.

You can view the full post here.

Stay Calm And Carry On

According to National Park Boards (NParks), you’re advised to practice the following precautionary measures when confronting a wild boar:

• Stay calm and back away from the animal slowly
• Do not attempt to feed the animal
• Refrain from cornering or provoking it.

If you meet adult boars with children, your best bet is to leave them alone; as they, like every other parent in the world, may feel inclined to protect their young.

It should also be noted that incidents revolving around wild boars have turned grisly in the past.

On 17 November 2020, a 50-year-old auditor was on the way home with her husband when they spotted a boar near Pasir Ris Drive 3.

The animal then charged out from the foliage to her left and knocked her down, causing her to suffer from several facial wounds, as well as a galling 10 cm long, 3 cm wide gash on her left thigh that reportedly revealed the bone within.

And back in August 2018, a pregnant woman was reportedly attacked by a wild boar from behind, at Edgefield Plains in Punggol.

The assault left her with deep cuts on her right calf, as well as several bite marks.

For the record, wild boar attacks, particularly those in herds, could also prove fatal.

According to BBC News, a woman in Texas was assaulted by a herd of wild boars in Anahuac, east of Houston, in 2019.

She was brutally killed by the feral creatures.

Upon witnessing the scene, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told reporters: “In my 35 years, I will tell you it’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen.”

Featured Image: Facebook (走，新加坡)