Status and Crop damage issues of wild boars

The wild boar is one of the widely distributed mammals found in all types of forests in India. Due to fragmentation, the population is become overabundant and creates all sort of menace to public. Pioneer study was attempted in the Nilgiri South Forest Division. Totally 532 individuals were counted in seven forest ranges altogether during the survey. This study has recorded the wild boar population was high in Geddai beat of the Kundha range and Naduvattam beat of the Naduvattam range. The overall density of wild boar in the Division was 17.32 individuals/Sq.Km. Highest density was recorded in the Naduvattam range (41.29 /Sq km) and Kundha (37.53/Sq km) ranges due to the availability of food and shelter. The present study shows that most of them (n=121) were opined that 20-30 times/month wild boars damaged their crops. Among the crops, root tuber crops were severely damaged by wild boars. In a nutshell, this present study recorded that the anti-conservation mind set of the local people on wild boar's is mainly because of crop depredation is pathetic. Policy level interventions and by paying ample compensation may change the mindset of the local people on wild boar conservation.