Preliminary survey on the Indian wild boar damage in agricultural lands using ITKs in adjoining Tiger reserve of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The Indian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa cristatus L.) is a widely distributed animal in India. The incidence of Indian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and its harm to agricultural crops were investigated in a preliminary survey. The survey included the major agricultural crops that were damaged by the wild boar and the preventive measures that the farmers have taken to protect the crop from the raiding of wild boar. The study was taken up from the months of December to February (2021-2022) in and around three Tiger Reserves (Mudumalai, Anamalai and Sathyamangalam) with the help of Tamil Nadu Forest Department. With this outline, the purpose of this study is to highlight and record in detail about the tribal communities traditional knowledge on the plants that are not preferred by the wild boar. The survey was conducted in tribal hamlets encompassing the tiger reserves. Through the semi-structured informal interviews, Questionnaire, Interactions during on farm fields, the study has recorded that the wild boar has an aversion to eight plant species and eight traditional methods (five physical method and three biological method) were identified.