Wild boar gatecrashes Zaragoza’s Pilar fiestas and injures woman inside city-centre bar

A wild boar gatecrashed the penultimate night of Zaragoza’s Fiestas del Pilar in the early hours of Sunday, charging through busy central streets before injuring a woman inside a bar on Calle Temple.

Local Police confirmed they received the first call at twenty to one in the morning reporting the animal racing around the area of Calle Asalto and Jorge Cocci. Multiple units from Local and National Police, Zaragoza Firefighters and the animal rescue and recovery team raced to the scene straight away in an attempt to contain it and redirect it out of the city.

Instead the boar continued its run through Calle Aznar Molina, Camino Las Torres, Cesareo Alierta, Plaza de Los Sitios, Paseo Independencia and Calle Coso. Footage shared widely on social media shows it even sprinting along the tram tracks near Plaza de España, leaving late-night crowds, including families with children, staring in disbelief. Some videos circulated so quickly that people initially questioned whether they were real.

Jabalí en el centro de Zaragoza https://t.co/kHPiP4A3Pp

— DANIEL ARRIBAS (@DACASTAN75) October 17, 2026

Woman hurt in calle Temple bar

The animal eventually reached Calle Temple in the old town and entered a nightlife venue. Inside it charged at a woman, causing minor injuries. The bar owner and several customers managed to overpower it and put it down on the spot to prevent further danger. The animal even ended up on the dancefloor, appearing to strut its stuff.

El jabalí que iba suelto por Independencia se llegó a meter en el Jardín del Temple. https://t.co/bMR7UCtlxS

— Zaragoza Ciudad (@Zgz_Ciudad) October 18, 2026

FCC, the local cleaning service, later removed the body in an especially adapted vehicle. No other injuries or significant property damage were reported during the incident.

Growing issue across Spain

Wild boar incursions into urban areas have become increasingly frequent in many parts of the country. Earlier this month a woman was injured after a boar suddenly charged while she was walking in northern Spain, and authorities in several regions have stepped up control measures. Catalonia has offered payments to hunters to reduce numbers amid disease concerns, while councils in Malaga and elsewhere have used cage traps or contracted archers.

Experts note that expanding populations, milder winters and reduced natural predators have helped the animals move closer to towns and cities. Adults can reach high speeds and become aggressive if frightened or cornered.

Anyone out walking or driving in Spain is advised to keep a clear distance, never feed the animals, and avoid sudden movements if one appears.

Related coverage on rising wild boar problems can be found in previous Euro Weekly News reports on a similar attack in northern Spain, disease risks carried by the animals and Catalonia’s payment scheme for hunters. Practical safety advice is also available in this earlier guide.