The agricultural importance of the wild boar(Sus scrofaL.) in Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract We surveyed damage by the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) to sugarcane, wheat, and maize in Faisalabad District and to groundnut in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Chakwal Districts in northern Punjab, Pakistan. In these areas, wild boars were the most important vertebrate pest in sugarcane, wheat, and maize, causing more damage than rats, porcupines, or rose‐ringed parakeets. They were lesser pests in groundnut. The estimated damage to sugarcane was 11.3%, wheat 3.0%, maize 6.7%, and groundnut 0.9%. Combined yield losses in sugarcane, wheat, and maize are estimated to be 130.9 million Pakistan Rupees (Rs.) (US $7.6 million)§1. The loss of groundnut equalled Rs. 6.4 million. Farmers spend up to 2 months guarding sugarcane and maize fields from wild boar attacks. Highly toxic poisons in baits are the only effective method of crop protection currently used in Pakistan. To minimize sugarcane damage, farmers are changing from growing soft‐rind, high sugar‐content varieties to hard‐rind, lower sugar‐conten...