French Court Allows Adopted Wild Boar ‘Rillette’ to Stay with Her Carer

In a heartwarming victory for animal rights activists, a French court ruled in favor of Elodie Cappé, allowing her to keep looking after a wild boar named Rillette that she found as a piglet near some rubbish bins in eastern France in April 2023. After unsuccessful attempts to release her back into the wild, Cappé sterilized and vaccinated Rillette and kept her in an enclosure. Despite facing threats from local authorities to remove or euthanize the boar and potential legal consequences, Cappé persevered in caring for Rillette.

The judge not only allowed Rillette to stay with Cappé, but also awarded her €1,500 in damages from the prefecture. Cappé described this decision as a "great victory" and announced that she would donate the damages to charity. Rillette now roams freely on the farm, interacting with other animals and playing with dogs. This case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the positive impact of media attention in influencing legal outcomes for animals in need.