France: Joy as wild boar facing death allowed to stay with owner

When Ms Cappé’s local authority refused her permission to keep the wild animal – and unable to find a sanctuary that would take the sizeable beast – she faced two options.

She could give the boar to a woman who trained animals for films for profit, or Rillette would be euthanised – neither of which she wanted to happen.

Ms Cappé described Rillette – whom she cuddles and strokes – as her “best friend”.

“We both play a lot. I learn a lot of things. She knows how to sit [on command], lie down, play with dogs.

“She joins us for horse rides. She sleeps with the dogs. She’s a clown! She spends her days doing silly things to play.”

Keeping the boar, though, meant Ms Cappé risked a three-year jail sentence and a €150,000 (£127,000) fine.

Her appeal to a French court gained worldwide attention. She said she received calls from Germany, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada and the US while fighting the case.

Rillette’s story has drawn comparisons with a case in the US last year, in which a tame squirrel named Peanut that had had a large following on social media was put down by the authorities, sparking outcry.