Distribution and process of feralization of feral pigs

Abstract

The distinction between feral pigs and Eurasian wild boars Sus scrofa is always clear. Domestic pigs roamed and had opportunities to become wild under traditional husbandry practices such as free ranging and mast feeding in Europe and Asia, and they are mostly regarded to have emerged with Eurasian wild boars. Introduced Eurasian wild boars have interbred with feral pigs in the USA, South Africa, and parts of South America. Pigs were introduced to some islands in the Pacific Ocean by Melanesians and Polynesians, and feralization occurred even though their distribution was limited. From the 15th century to the 19th century, explorers, colonists, sealers, and whalers introduced or released pigs on many oceanic islands and new continents. In this period, pig feralization occurred frequently, and the main feral pigs's areas were established. -from English summary