Assessment of Crop Losses Due to Wild Boar, Sus scrofa Linnaeus in Cropping System of Vadodara District, India
J. J. Dand
AINP on VPM: Agricultural Ornithology, AAU, Anand, Gujarat-388110, India.
R. K. Thumar
Department of Nematology, BACA, AAU, Anand, Gujarat-388110, India.
R. R. Waghunde *
AINP on VPM: Agricultural Ornithology, AAU, Anand, Gujarat-388110, India.
K. J. Bhuva
AINP on VPM: Agricultural Ornithology, AAU, Anand, Gujarat-388110, India.
A. H. Nayi
AINP on VPM: Agricultural Ornithology, AAU, Anand, Gujarat-388110, India.
Vipin Chaudhary
AINP on VPM, ICAR- CAZRI, Jodhpur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) can cause agricultural losses through both direct feeding and indirect physical damage to standing crops
Aims: To assess the extent and pattern of crop damage caused by wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) in the major cropping systems of Vadodara district, Gujarat, with emphasis on both direct feeding and indirect damage caused by S. scrofa.
Place and Duration of Study: The investigation was conducted in four blocks, viz., Desar, Karjan, Padra and Sinor, of Vadodara district, Gujarat, from September 2024 to October 2025.
Methodology: A total of 143 agricultural fields were surveyed through field observations, quadrat sampling, farmer interviews and a questionnaire. Crop damage was estimated using the quadrat method for closely spaced crops, whereas complete plant counts were used for widely spaced fruit crops. The nature of the damage, including feeding, trampling and lodging, was also recorded, along with information on farmers’ perceptions of wild-boar damage.
Results: The highest mean crop damage was recorded in maize (15.84%), followed by banana (14.44%) and pearl millet (13.95%). Direct feeding damage was comparatively low, whereas substantial losses were associated with trampling and lodging during wild-boar movement. Damage was more pronounced in fields located near forest edges and roosting habitats. The majority of the interviewed farmers reported that crop damage was primarily caused by animal movement rather than feeding.
Conclusion: The study revealed that indirect damage caused by S. scrofa, particularly through trampling and lodging, contributes significantly to agricultural crop losses. Therefore, assessment and management strategies should consider both direct feeding and indirect movement-related damage, particularly in agricultural fields adjoining forested and wild-boar-prone habitats.
Keywords: Wild boar, Sus scrofa, crop damage, human-wildlife conflict, vertebrate pests, crop depredation, trampling, lodging, agricultural landscapes, GPS mapping, quadrat sampling, Vadodara