Archers to the rescue in Madrid as boars trespass

It's a scene straight out of mediaeval times set in modern-day Madrid: an archer dressed in camouflage gear, stationed in a tree at night, waiting for the kill. For five years, the authorities in the region have resorted to this unusual technique to cull wild boars encroaching on towns, relying on 55 volunteer bow hunters to eliminate pigs that take too much of a liking to urban life. "The bow is a silent weapon and people who use it act in a silent way too, so we don't disturb the environment or people," explains Emilio de la Cruz, a 45-year-old business owner and keen hunter who volunteers for this form of population control.

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