Abstract

SKEWES, Oscar  and  JAKSIC, Fabián M. History of the introduction and present distribution of the european wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Chile. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2015, vol.22, n.1, pp.113-124. ISSN 0327-9383.

The European wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an alien even-toed ungulate in Chile and little is known about its introduction and current distribution. The data contributed by this study are the result of interviews and fieldwork conducted between 1986 and 1990; this information was brought up to date between 2010 and 2012. The collected data indicate that the oldest wild boar population on Chilean soil dates back to 1950, with ancestors that were imported directly from Germany. Later on, between 1956 and 1970, wild boars migrated from Argentina across Andean mountain passes. The present populations were also initiated by wild boars that were deliberately released or that escaped accidentally from clandestine farms between 2002 and 2009, mainly in the central region of Chile. The most likely reason for the release of these animals is the establishment of a species for sport hunting. In addition, the largest part of the current population in the south of Chile has been fueled by wild boars entering from Argentina, crossing the border for reasons yet unknown. At present, the wild boar inhabits an area of 27 600 km² in Chile, which represents an increment of 51.6% in the occupied area since 1990. The ecological attributes of this invasive mammal, its value for hunting, and changes in the land use, indicate that the wild boar will increase its distribution towards central and southernmost Chile, which will affect biodiversity, agriculture, and livestock of this extensive area.

Keywords : Andes; Boar-farms; Dispersal; Escapees; Invasive.

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