The introduction of wild boar Sus scrofa in Cyprus: an alien species in a highly endemic area
Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: Biogeographia - vol. XXI - 2000 (Pubblicato i/ 30 giugno 2000) Biogeografia del|’AnatoIia The introduction of wild boar Sm scrofiz in Cyprus: an alien species in a highly endemic area ELEFTHERIOS I-IADJISTERKOTIS Game mm’ Fzzzmzz Service — Minirny of the ]7’lt€7'I07‘, Nicosia (Cyprus) Key words: wild boar, Cyprus, Cyprus mouflon, reintroduction, alien species. SUMMARY In 1990, five wild boars (511: rcrufiz) were imported From Greece to the island of Cyprus for game farming. The presence of wild bear on the island was seen by hunters as a great opportunity for Cyprus to acquire a large game mammal. Together with some officials of the Department of Forestry, they claimed that this species was present on Cyprus in the past, and that this was the opportunity to reintroduce it to the wild. thus fulfilling an obligation under international treaties and conventions. Other researchers, maintained that wild boat was never present on Cyprus, and should therefore never be allowed free on the island. In 1994 wild boar were illegally released in Limassol Forest and in 1996 in the Troodos National Forest Park, an area ltnown for its very large number of endemic plant species. In this paper I examine whether wild boar should be treated as reintroduced or as an alien species by reviewing the literature and the archaeological finds to see if it was ever present on the island. In addition I analyze the efTect which it might have on the environment. I conclude that this species should be treated as an alien species. which has the potential to cause considerable, maybe irreversible, damage to the local fauna and flora, and that it should be controlled. 1. INTRODUCTION The introduction of exotic plants and animals to new regions has generated much concern among biologists because exotics can disrupt ecosystems and directly or indirectly lead to the extinction of native species (Schofield, 1989; Vitousek, 1990; Hobbs and Huenneke, 1992; Waithman et al., 1999). A few well known examples include rabbits (O23/ctogzzlus cuiziculus) in Australia (Lange and Graham, 1983), red fire ants (50lm0psz's invita) in North America (Killion and Grant, 1995) and Guams’s ground dwelling bird fauna. preyed on and almost eliminated by the brown tree snakes (Boigcz irregularis) (McNeely and Strahm, 1997; Savidge, 1987). According to experts, harmful invasions are now the second most serious threat to biodiversity after habitat loss (Glowka et al., 1994; McNeely and Stralim, 1997). The most heavily affected areas include the world’s oceanic islands, coastal estuaries, and large lakes. Native species on islands have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to extinction from
DOI: 10.21426/b621110000
Author: Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2767545795