engleski

The wild boar interaction on Croatian agriculture

Agricultural damage by wild boar has been reported from all over the country, and is a major concern for both agricultural and wildlife agencies at the national level. In this study 4, 695 cases of wild boar (Sus scrofa) damage over a 4-year period (2005-2008) were analysed. Damages on crops were recorded throughout 11 months of year, but highest was during the time of crops maturation and throughout May, June and July. The average annual damage payment amount was 559, 977.49 €, and annual number of payments have a negative correlation (-0.469) to the total payment amount. The average annual number of damages over four years was approximate, but the highest number of damages was recorded in 2007 (1, 217 cases). A large portion, 86% of total number of payments, were payments with a value of less than 678 €, which indicated a relative small economic value of single wild boar damage. With a large share in the total payment value and in total number of damages greater than 60%, maize (Zea mays) is the most important agriculture crop from the standpoint of damages from wild boar. Beside maize, other economically important crops, with a total payoff amount bigger than 10% are cereals (barley- Hordeum vulgare, oats- Avena sativa, rye- Secale cereale) and grape vine (Vitis sp.). The correlation between yearly number of payments and yearly production was not calculated for any crop. The impact of wild boar damage on agriculture crops, in total, leads to conclusion that this is a major problem of this species. The results showed a specific subset of game damage in Croatia and, as such, it can be extrapolated to provide insight into the damage found in actual conditions.

Croatia; crop damage; human-wildlife conflict; wild boar

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