Witten's empty wild boar enclosure sparks debate over its future use
The future of Witten's former wild boar enclosure at Hohenstein hill will be decided at a city council meeting on February 23, 2026. The site has stood empty since July 2025, when the last animals were removed after a culling operation. Different political parties have now put forward competing plans for the area.
The enclosure was cleared in mid-2025 after around ten wild boars were culled each year. Since then, the space has remained unused, prompting debate over its next purpose.
The AfD party has proposed restocking the enclosure with wild boars, reviving its original function. Meanwhile, the CDU suggests gathering public opinions before making any decisions. The SPD supports this approach, calling for wider community involvement in shaping the site's future. The local administration has put forward an alternative idea: transforming the area into an 'experimental forestry zone' by planting rare tree species. This plan would shift the land's use from animal husbandry to conservation and research.
The city council will review all proposals at its upcoming session. A final decision will determine whether the site returns to housing wild boars, becomes a public consultation project, or is repurposed as a forestry research area. The outcome will also clarify how the land will be managed moving forward.
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