Displays of vigilance in wild boar (Sus scrofa ussuricus) groups in a protected area of the central Sikhote-Alin

Wild boar (Sus scrofa ussuricus) in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve exhibit heightened vigilance, likely due to generalized reactions to large predators like tigers and brown bears. The study found that wild boars detect danger primarily through sounds from up to 0.8 km away, with visual scanning and smell identification playing crucial roles when predators are nearby. Vigilance was observed in 35.7% of maternal groups, with guards spending 8–9% of their time on vigilance while resting and 11–12% while grazing. This vigilance increased significantly (up to 41.3 times) during perceived risk or when exposed to extraneous sounds. The research suggests that wild boars can quickly extrapolate the direction of dangerous objects, aligning with tiger hunting tactics characterized by alternating pursuit and cessation periods.

Zaitsev, V. A. (2025). Displays of vigilance in wild boar (Sus scrofa ussuricus) groups in a protected area of the central Sikhote-Alin. Зоологический Журнал / Russian Journal of Zoology, 104(2), 51. https://doi.org/10.7868/s3034545625020042