Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The wild boar was reintroduced to Sweden in the 1970´s from enclosures that they had escaped from and by a government decision in 1988 they were considered a part of the natural fauna again. The purpose with this report is to examine the effects of the wild boars’ reintroduction both on their welfare and on other aspects, such as how their population growth affects Sweden. This was done by gathering information from scientific literature and by performing three interviews. Another purpose is to briefly overlook live trapping and other common regulation methods. After the wild boar was reestablished, local problems for landowners started to rise where the populations where substantial. Both landowners and hunters have been feeding the wild boars in attempts to help and feed up the population. As a result of this they have adjusted to an artificial resource and the population density has increased. A large population of wild boar demands regulation methods to minimize damage on agricultural crops and traffic accidents involving wild boars, and in Sweden we use feeding in averting purposes as well as carrion hunt. We also use drive hunting and live trapping as regulation methods. The question is if these types of regulation are suitable in consideration of the wild boars welfare.

The wild boar lives in a matriarchate where the older male boars live nearby. The wild boar is a withdrawn animal that is nocturnal to avoid us humans, it also stays clear of big open areas. They are also opportunistic omnivores and eat what they can find in their environment. In the winter you can see an increase in animalistic feed and in the summer agricultural crops are especially vulnerable. Good access to food sources are the main reason to the rapid population growth. The wild boars’ ecology and behavior are the main factors that we need to take into consideration in the management of this species.

The Swedish Hunting association, Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund and Sveaskog were asked what their opinion was in the matter of population growth and choice of suitable management for the wild boar. The wild boar population is wanted by both the Swedish Hunting association and Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund as well as Sveaskog. But their opinion on live trapping is what separates them most in the cause of the wild boar. Where LRF can see a continued use of live trapping, the Swedish Hunting association is against future use of this method.

Regulation is needed and should be locally preformed, though information is needed on how we humans affect population growth and how our regulation methods affect the wild boars’ welfare.