It seems that more animal attacks are taking place (More checks after attack by wild boar outside condo; Oct 20).

The feeding of animals such as wild boars and monkeys by the public, which encourages them to wander away from their natural habitats, is one theory that is inevitably advanced.

But it is surely also the case that the populations of monkeys and wild boars are much larger now than what the forest can sustain.

The lack of natural predators and the shrinking forest area are also likely to be huge factors for the increased appearances of these animals.

I suggest that decisive action be taken to manage the populations of these animals.

Animal protection and rescue organisation Acres and the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) need to balance the desire for protecting wildlife with the need for human safety.

We must ensure that even as we conserve wildlife, the public is not at risk of injuries, diseases, fear and so on.

While animal protection agencies should certainly be consulted, the AVA must not be hamstrung as it does what must be done in the overall public interest.

Lim Ang Yong