Researchers of the Institute of Complex Systems of the Cnr and Institute for Research and Environmental Protection have reviewed the methods that can be used for the monitoring of wild boar populations, demonstrating that the application of Distance Sampling using thermal viewers allows a precise and accurate estimate. This opens up new paths for sustainable management of the species and for the protection of crops and livestock. The work is published in the journal wildlife biology. Contrary to what one might think, taking a census of populations of wild animals is not trivial, especially if the species lives in the forest and has nocturnal habits like the wild boar.
Researchers of the Institute of Complex Systems of the National Research Council (Cnr-Isc) and the Institute for Research and Environmental Protection (Ispra) carried out a series of censuses using the "distance sampling" method and night thermal viewers in various Italian protected areas, demonstrating that estimating wild boar populations in a precise and accurate manner it's possible. The study - published in the journal Wildlife Biology - was conducted in very different environmental conditions, ranging from the Mediterranean woods of Monte Arcosu (Sardinia) to the agricultural areas of great value in the Euganean Hills (Veneto), up to the highest altitudes of the Apennine mountains (Casentinesi Forests, Tuscany and Emilia Romagna): all environments strongly influenced by the presence of the wild boar .
“The availability of population estimates can make it possible effectively plan the control actions necessary to contain the species and to evaluate how effective these actions have been ”, explains Stefano Focardi of Cnr-Isc, head of research. In fact, the research shows that in the studied environments, with an acceptable effort, accurate estimates of 20% can be obtained, a significant leap in quality given that in Europe today no one is able to estimate the wild boar populations. “The article presents an extensive discussion of methods that can be used for monitoring.
Given the negative impact that the species has on crops and the costs that this entails ", adds Barbara Franzetti of Ispra," the possibility of setting up an adaptive management on precise and reliable data would represent a particularly useful operational tool". "A potentially very serious problem caused by the presence of wild boar is the spread of African swine fever, which can severely negatively impact European pig farming", concludes Focardi, "and the availability of precise methods for population estimate can be extremely relevant for the formulation of risk maps "(Agriculture.it).