A WILD boar and two piglets were this week spotted at a Dartmoor beauty spot, sparking a public safety statement issued by the national park. The wild boar have been seen in woodland around Burrator Reservoir ? a popular area for walkers, joggers and cyclists. It is not known if the animals are linked to a herd released by animal rights protestors at South Molton just before Christmas. A spokesman for Dartmoor National Park Authority said: ?At present there is still no confirmation that they are linked to the group that came from South Molton. ?The first sighting of wild boar that was given to us was in the early hours of December 23rd and the group was released during the night of the 22nd, so unless pigs can fly, there is no way they could have covered that distance on foot. ?I understand that Defra has been to Burrator and South West Lakes Trust rangers have seen a mother and two piglets.? The spokesman said the authority is advising walkers in the Burrator area to avoid walking through dense undergrowth and to keep dogs on a lead in areas known or suspected to be occupied by wild boar. The spokesman said: ?Sows with young piglets are potentially more dangerous than other boar because they may attempt to defend their young. ?If you see wild boar, do not approach them ? if possible, leave the area by the same route you approached by or make a detour giving the animals a wild berth. ?If you have a dog off the lead and it chases wild boar or will not return when called, stay at a safe distance and continue to call the dog back ? do not approach the boar.? The spokesman said wild boar were normally very secretive and nocturnal ? there were very few cases of boar attacking people in Europe or elsewhere. ?In many cases, if boar are seen from a safe distance, it may be possible to simply wait until they have left the area of their own accord before proceeding,? he said. According to Defra, there are now wild boar populations in the weald of Kent and Sussex and in Dorset ? in both areas, the animals are known to be breeding. Defra?s National wildlife management team is currently monitoring the status of the feral boar population in the UK ? sightings can be reported to it on 0845 6014523.