A court allowed a woman to keep a wild boar: the animal was threatened with euthanasia or starvation (4 photos + 1 video)

French officials demanded that a wild pig living on a farm be put to sleep. Thousands of people, including Brigitte Bardot, stood up for it





Farmer Elodie Cappe saved a small wild pig, and it became a real member of the family. However, the authorities demanded that the animal be put to sleep, and an entire international campaign was launched in its defense.



A French court has allowed horse breeder Elodie Cappe to keep her wild pig Rillette, who lives on her farm. Officials had demanded that the animal be euthanized, which caused violent protests.

Elodie found the dying wild piglet near the garbage bins in her stable in December 2023. The farmer saved the animal from death and tried to place it in a nature park.

However, no one wanted to take Rillette, who was named after a French pate. Some people directly told the woman that it would be better to shoot the animal. Then Elodie decided to keep Rillette.





The farmer sterilized and vaccinated Rillet. Elodie built a separate enclosure with everything necessary for the new tenant. Gradually, the piglet grew into a large boar and became a member of the family. According to the owner, Rillet behaves like a dog: she knows how to follow commands and quickly comes running when her name is called. The pig has become friends with horses and dogs and has a great time on the farm.

Elodie tried to get permission to keep a wild boar, but officials were categorically against it. The department authorities called the situation illegal. In their opinion, the boar could be a carrier of African swine fever or tuberculosis and pose a threat to the health of animals and people. Elodie's argument that the farm was located far from villages and surrounded by forest did not work. Officials threatened to take Riette away and put her to sleep. And Elodie was threatened with prison and a fine of up to 150 thousand euros for illegally keeping a wild animal.



Then an entire international campaign in defense of the boar began online. Popular bloggers, some politicians and even the legendary actress and famous animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot joined in.

"Help! I demand that Riette be spared. What monsters are demanding that she be put down... this little animal has the right to live, and it is our duty. She is innocent. Putting her to sleep is a crime! We are under the control of murderers," Bardot wrote in an open letter.

A petition in defense of Rillette was signed by almost 200,000 people, and local residents organized a silent march. On Thursday, the court sided with Elodie Cappe: it ordered the prefecture to reconsider the application for Rillette's upkeep and pay the farmer 1,500 euros in compensation.