Current distribution and population status of wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) in Greece.docVIP

Acta Silv. Lign. Hung., Vol. 5 (2009) 153-157 Current distribution and population status of wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) in Greece a* Efstathios P. TSACHALIDIS – Eleftherios HADJISTERKOTISb a Laboratory of Ecology – Wildlife Management, Department of Forestry and Environmental Management and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece Ministry of the Interior, Nicosia, Cyprus b Abstract – This is the first attempt to estimate wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) population density and distribution in Greece. The study took place in 2004, in all 38 Greek counties of the mainland, as well as in the larger forested Greek islands: Crete, Rodos, Samos, Lesvos, Limnos, Thasos, Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakinthos. It was observed that the species was present in every county in continental Greece, with the exception of the two counties Attica and Evia. Attica, which includes the capital city of Athens, is densely inhabited not allowing much space for wildlife. Evian is an island connected to the mainland with a bridge. Wild boar can be found in an area around 19,495 km , which is about 14% 2 of the country. The mean distribution altitude reaches 686 ± 266 m. The average population number was estimated at 19,033 (0.98 ± 0, 21 ind/km ) individuals with maximum population level 23,030 2 animals, and a minimum of 16,536. The highest mean density was observed in the prefecture of Sterea Hellas (1.26 ind/km ) and the lowest in the prefecture of Thrace (0.89 ind/km ). The maximum density 2 2 2 2 was found in Sterea Hellas (3.14 ind/km ) and the minimum density in Thrace (0.13 ind/km ). The above results are expected to provide valuable in