An incident involving a wild boar that entered the metro tracks near Empalme station in Burjassot became an unexpected challenge for Valencia’s transport system. The event caused delays on two key metro lines and drew attention to the growing population of wild animals in the suburbs. For many local residents, the episode served as a reminder of how quickly the usual pace of city life can change due to nature’s intervention.
On Thursday morning, around nine o’clock, employees of the transport company Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGV) received an alarming report: a wild boar had been spotted on the metro tracks. The animal entered the Empalme station area from the commercial zone and was soon seen near Campanar station, heading toward the center of Valencia. To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, train service on Lines 1 and 2 was temporarily suspended, with certain routes blocked off.
Capture operation
Seprona officers—a specialized unit of the Civil Guard focused on nature protection—arrived at the scene. Their mission was to quickly locate and neutralize the wild animal, preventing any collisions with trains or passengers. At the same time, Metrovalencia management alerted all train drivers to the potential danger on the tracks and advised them to exercise extra caution.
Passengers who were on the trains at that moment noticed that the movement slowed down significantly, and stops at stations and in tunnels lasted longer than usual. Many did not understand what was happening until an official announcement was made over the loudspeaker: delays were caused by the appearance of a wild animal on the tracks. The increased presence of security personnel at Beniferri and Campanar stations only heightened passengers’ anxiety.
Service restoration
After several tense minutes as the boar ran through the tunnels, train service was completely halted on two lines. This allowed specialists to focus on locating and capturing the animal to prevent possible accidents. Once the situation was under control, trains gradually began to return to their regular schedule, starting from the section after Túria station.
Passengers noted that after service resumed, the trains ran without delays, while metro staff continued to monitor the situation in case the animal reappeared. For many, this incident prompted reflection on transport safety and just how vulnerable urban systems can be to unexpected incursions by wildlife.
Measures against invasions
The wild boar incident has once again raised the issue of the need to control the population of wild animals in the suburbs of Valencia. Regional authorities reminded that efforts to combat the growing boar population have been underway for several years. Recently, the Valencian parliament approved a special decree introducing urgent measures to reduce the number of these animals, including the installation of traps and the use of camera traps to monitor the situation.
Particular attention is being paid to areas where wild boar sightings near residential and commercial zones are becoming increasingly frequent. In the municipality of Burjassot and the surrounding l’Horta area, new measures are already being implemented. These actions aim not only to prevent such incidents but also to protect agricultural land and curb the spread of African swine fever.
Similar incidents
In recent years, sightings of wild animals in Spanish cities have become more common. Boars are increasingly venturing into residential neighborhoods, especially in Catalonia and Valencia, where urban development borders natural areas. In Barcelona and its suburbs, there have been repeated incidents of boars appearing on roads, entering parks, and even accessing school grounds. In some cases, these animals have caused traffic accidents or damage to urban infrastructure.
The problem is compounded by the fact that wild boars quickly adapt to life near humans, finding food in garbage bins and becoming unafraid of city noise. Authorities in various regions of Spain are forced to develop comprehensive programs to control the population and inform the public about safety measures when encountering wild animals. Despite ongoing efforts, experts note that it is still impossible to completely prevent such incidents.
A recent incident in Valencia serves as yet another reminder that urban environments and nature intersect more and more often, requiring constant attention and innovative solutions to safety issues.
In the context of transport challenges, it’s worth recalling that not long ago Catalonia faced a massive transportation failure: rail services were disrupted, and buses were unable to cope with the passenger flow. Regional authorities were also forced to take urgent measures to restore transport operations and ensure residents’ safety. You can learn more about the causes and consequences of this crisis in the article about the transportation collapse in Catalonia.
