A wild boar that appeared on a hiking trail near the Milmaru Observatory in Sejong was captured after about three hours of efforts by the relevant authorities, and no casualties were reported.

■ Report at 8:25 a.m.…Captured and shot around 11:17 a.m.

The Sejong City Government issued a disaster alert at 9:34 a.m. on the 28th, announcing that a wild boar had appeared on the hiking trail next to the Milmaru Observatory and that capture operations were underway. The city banned access to the trail for safety reasons and urged special caution for the elderly and children.

The sighting was reported at 8:25 a.m. After fire authorities and the harmful wildlife damage prevention team conducted a search, one wild boar was captured and shot at around 11:17 a.m., about three hours later. No injuries were reported in the process.

■ What to do if you encounter a wild boar

If you spot a wild boar, it is important not to approach it or provoke it by shouting. Running away suddenly may cause the boar to feel threatened and chase you, so you should calmly keep your distance.

If you encounter a wild boar on a hiking or walking trail, rather than turning your back and running, it is advisable to watch the animal's movements while slowly moving to a safe place, keeping solid obstacles such as trees or rocks between you and the boar. Even if you see a boar piglet, you should not approach it, as the mother may be nearby.

■ Prevention rules and how to report

Extra caution is needed when using rarely frequented mountain paths during times when wild animals are likely to be active, such as at night or early morning. Bringing food into the mountains or feeding animals should also be avoided.

Sejong City advised through its disaster alert that if a wild boar is found, people should not attempt to capture it themselves and should instead report it to 119. In areas where capture operations are underway, it is safest to avoid entering hiking and walking trails in accordance with control notices.

[This article is intended to provide information based on Sejong City's disaster alert and publicly available materials from relevant agencies. The wildlife situation and controlled areas may change depending on field conditions, so the latest guidance from Sejong City and fire authorities should be confirmed. AI was used for some sentences and compiling materials.]