Ecology of wild pig and human wild-pig conflict in and around Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

Abstract

The wild pig is one of the most widely distributed terrestrial mammals. It has always been associated itself with man, and successfully utilises the human altered landscape. The study on ecological and management considerations in Ranthambore National Park provide a basis for developing an action plan to mitigate the problem effectively and on a long-term basis. In the present study Methods for capturing and handling wild pigs were developed and evaluated. The study on capture and radio-collaring of wild pigs was conducted from April 2008 through June 2010 in Ranthambore National Park. The propensity of wild pigs to overcome deterrents is a behavioural adaptation, about which very little is known. So it is important to understand the behaviour of wild pigs to use agro-ecosystem, nature and extent of human-wild pig conflict and assess qualitatively and quantitatively the damage to agricultural crops in and around Ranthambore National Park. A reconnaissance survey was conducted in and around the National Park and information on the nature and extent of human-wild pig damage problems was collected from the villages and the use and efficacy of power fence was evaluated in controlling crop damage caused by wild pigs