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The Operational Group for the Prevention of African Swine Fever (GO PREVPA) has prepared a report to approximate the population dynamics of wild boar in Spain.
For the period evaluated, from 2010 to 2016, the annual growth increases with abundance up to a tipping point -approximately 1.5 wild boar per square kilometer of suitable habitat area- and then there is a gradual reduction in population growth rates. Thus, three distinct categories by province are established according to the results of these density dependence tests.
- The first category corresponds to those with a high density of wild boars and a low growth rate. This category includes only the provinces of Huesca and Girona, which means that in both Pyrenean territories -the Pre-Pyrenees being the most favorable area- the maximum level of wild boar populations would have been reached.
- Barcelona, Valencia, and Alicante would be grouped in a second category with high growth rates, which means that they are currently in potential expansion.
- The rest of the provinces analyzed are classified in a third category that represents those territories with a low relative abundance and a low annual growth rate, but with the potential to increase both indicators in the future.
Number of wild boars per suitable habitat (km2). Source: Prevpa.
Thus, the preliminary analysis of wild boar population data shows that the populations of this species in Spain may be approaching their inflection point, although most of the provinces are in a phase of accelerated growth. This poses a threat in the immediate future because of the problems associated with the overabundance of this species, which is a carrier of diseases such as African swine fever.
December 21, 2022/ PREVPA/ Spain.
https://prevpa.com/
