Chapter 21: Eurasian wild boar Sus scrofa (Linnaeus, 1758)213
Distribution Outside its Native Range
During the course of the last centuries a mix of wild boar and
feral pigs has been introduced in several regions around the
world. Moreover, most wild boar used for introductions outside
the native range have a Eurasian origin. In the USA introduc-
tions have been both accidental (e.g. escaped domestic swine)
and intentional (e.g. Eurasian wild boar released as game spe-
cies; Mayer & Brisbin 2008, 2009). Despite a prolonged presence
on the continent, the wild pigs in North America have under-
gone a recent dramatic expansion in both their distribution and
numbers (see Chapter 28 for more details). The species has been
recorded in 48 of 50 States with the exception of Rhode Island
and Wyoming. They are currently reported to be established in
35 States (Sweitzer et al. 2000; McCann et al. 2003; Gaston 2008;
see also Chapter 28 in this book and Table 21.2 for more details).
Recently, feral pigs have been eradicated in New York State
(J. Mayer, personal communication).
The introduction of the species in Canada during the 1980s
originated from the first stock, presumably of pure wild boar, that
was imported from Europe. These animals were hybridized with
domestic swine to increase reproduction. In the 2000s, established
populations with significant numbers of wild boar were reported
in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan (Brook & van Beest
2014). Between 2013 and 2014 there were reports of sightings in
eastern Ontario, western Quebec, and southern British Columbia
(Bostelaar 2014; BCMFLNRO 2014; see also Table 21.2).
In South America the species is present in Ecuador
(Galápagos), Colombia, and also in Argentina, from where it
is spreading in its wild form into Chile and Brazil (where wild
boar coming from the south and feral pigs from the north
hybridize in the Araucaria forests of Florianopolis; Salvador
& Fernandez 2013; Aravena et al. 2015; Ballari et al. 2015;
Skewes & Jaksic 2015). It has also been introduced into Uruguay
from Argentinean wild boar (García et al. 2011). The status in
Paraguay is not well known, but a recent invasion of wild boar
from south Brazil is affecting the north and west of the country
(Salvador de Oliveira 2012; see also Chapter 29 in this book).
In addition to North and South America, wild boar and
feral pigs have been introduced in Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Fiji, Haiti, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua
New Guinea, Africa, Central and South America, Oceania, and
Indonesia (several islands). Australia has an estimated maxi-
mum population of feral pigs of 24 million, nearly the same as
the human population (c.23 million; http://www.business.qld.gov.au/
industry/agriculture/species/declared-pests/animals/feral-pig).
For a detailed worldwide distribution by country of wild
boar and feral pigs see Table 21.2 and Table 21.3.Figure 21.7 Eurasian wild boar distribution (source: IUCN 2008, Red List of Threatened Species). (A simplified black and white version of this figure will appear in some
formats. For the colour version, please refer to the plate section.)
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