The article “Mapping wild boar density across Europe: combining spatial models and density estimates” is a collaborative study involving researchers from several European universities. CESAM/DBIO researchers Rita Tinoco Torres, João Carvalho, and Carlos Fonseca contributed to this work, which was published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research.
The aim of the study was to map the density of wild boar (Sus scrofa) across Europe by combining empirical density data with predictive spatial models. This represents the first large-scale map providing quantitative estimates of the species’ abundance across the continent.
Local wild boar density data collected through various European projects were compiled and then linked to environmental variables such as climate, land cover, and vegetation productivity to predict the species’ distribution throughout Europe.
The results show that wild boar density varies widely across the continent, with the highest densities occurring in Central Europe and in productive forest areas with temperate climates. The study highlights the strong population growth of wild boar in recent decades, with estimates ranging between 13.5 and 19.6 million individuals, and underscores the importance of these findings for population management and disease control—particularly in managing outbreaks or endemic diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF).
These estimates are valuable as they help clarify the ecological, economic, and social impacts of wild boar populations, support more effective management at local, regional, and international levels, and guide control efforts, logistics, and adaptation strategies.
This work stems from CESAM’s participation in the European ENETWILD network and the European Observatory of Wildlife.
Read the full article here.