August 11, 2018 – You don’t come across much wildlife on the island of Hvar, but when you do, it can be quite spectacular.
About ten years ago, I was driving back to Jelsa on Hvar from Albania. I had been driving for about six hours and just made the last ferry from Drvenik to Sucuraj. The half-hour ferry crossing would get me onto the island for 23:00 and I would be home by midnight.
Exhausted, I was grateful to find myself driving behind a car which was driving at a decent speed. There were no road lights, and so the two red dots of the rear lights were all I needed to follow. We were making good progress until, inexplicably – and on a very straight road, the car slammed on its brakes and then started to drive very slowly indeed. I was a little annoyed to have my easy routine interfered with, but before I could think any more about that…
CRUNCH! The sound of twisted metal as something hit the side of the front wheel on the driver’s side. I looked out to see a somewhat dazed wild boar which had been attempting to cross the street. Any thoughts of getting out to see if the boar were ok went out the window when I saw two other boars behind, not looking too happy with me. Although there was damage done to the car, it still functioned, and off I drove home. My father-in-law has never forgiven me for not returning with the boar in the back of the car for a rather fine lunch.
But that was nothing compared to what I saw online yesterday – Sadly, I can’t find the original video or credit the person who took this incredible footage, but how about this for an extended boar family?
Five adult wild boar went first, then at least 30 baby boars, before four adult boars brought up the rear.
An incredible sight in an undisclosed location on Hvar. So keep your eyes peeled when you drive at night, for those wild boar definitely are out there.
