What Do We Know About Wild Boar in Iberia?

Abstract

Wild boar is an important species throughout the Iberian Peninsula, and populations exist from sea level to elevations of >2000 m in high mountain environments, which reflects its incredible ability to adapt to a wide range of natural and cultural environments. To summarize the scientific and management knowledge on this species in Portugal and Spain, we reviewed 174 published and unpublished texts written since 1914. Research has progressed from descriptive studies toward applied ecology, which has focused on the problem that species poses to its environment. We identified six main fields of study interest and potential wild boar conflict: (i) the role of the species in natural and semi-natural ecosystems, (ii) agricultural damages, (iii) car accidents, (iv) disease transmission and reservoir, (v) hunt and control, and (vi) urban wild boars. The ability of wild boar to adapt to and transform a wide variety of ecosystems has to be monitored carefully, particularly within the context of adaptive management in natural areas. The lack of a rapid response causes high social and economic costs, and the problem has worsened. The increase in the frequency of interactions between humans and wild boars underscores the importance of management actions that address not only the wild boar populations but also human behaviour and the avoidance of risk situations, e.g. urban wild boars and traffic collisions, which includes environmental education.