The first European map of wild boars confirms an "extreme" density of this animal in Catalonia and in the State

BarcelonaThe wild boar population in Catalonia exceeded 200,000 before the arrival of African swine fever (ASF), and the total population across Spain exceeded 2.4 million. These figures were revealed by the first European wild boar density map, produced by the Health and Biotechnology Research Group of the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC) and the European consortium ENETWILD. The map, using harmonized, high-resolution data from across Europe, places the total population of these pigs on the continent between 13.5 and 19.6 million, but highlights "extreme population density" in several areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This is particularly true in the so-called "Mediterranean corridor," which stretches from southern France and Catalonia to southeastern Spain.

According to IREC and ENETWILD, this high density is "worrying" because it coincides with "major transport routes" and "multiplies the risk of disease introduction"—such as African swine fever—as well as its eventual arrival on farms. The Institute, however, extends the alert to the whole of Europe and emphasizes that, despite the annual increase in wild boar captures, their population has experienced "constant and accelerated" growth in recent years across the continent, posing a "critical risk" to animal health and the rural economy. Beyond Spain, the map shows a greater presence of wild boar in the westernmost European countries, including France, Italy, Central Europe, and the Adriatic coast. Conversely, density increases as we move east and north across the continent, with the exception of Norway, where there is a high number of these animals.

Number of specimens per square kilometer

Until now, European data on wild boar populations were fragmented, as each country used different methods for counting them. But the new tool harmonizes the data, moving from abundance indices to density estimates (the number of individuals per square kilometer), with a spatial resolution of 2x2 km and "a level of detail and consistency never before achieved for a terrestrial wildlife species in Europe." This change allows for "greater biological realism, better comparability between countries, and direct application in epidemiological and risk analysis models," IREC emphasizes. Or in other words, it adds, "a solid foundation for the analysis, surveillance, and management of diseases" such as African swine fever (ASF). "It helps us understand the dynamics of transmission, persistence, and spread of the disease," as well as "carcass detection and control measures," it concludes in a statement.