Invasive species and bushmeat hunting contributing to wildlife conservation: the case of feral pigs in a Neotropical wetland

In the Brazilian Pantanal, feral pigs serve as a crucial buffer against bushmeat hunting of native wildlife, offering a culturally acceptable and readily available meat source. This study reveals that feral pigs are the primary hunting target in this Neotropical wetland, where human populations rarely hunt native species due to their scarcity or inaccessibility. Researchers used exploratory surveys, semi-structured interviews, skull collections, tooth wear analysis, and hunting registers to assess hunting patterns. While feral pigs mitigate hunting pressure on native wildlife, their ecological impacts remain uncertain, highlighting a complex conservation dilemma in non-protected areas.

Jean Desbiez, A. L., Keuroghlian, A., Piovezan, U., & Bodmer, R. E. (2011). Invasive species and bushmeat hunting contributing to wildlife conservation: the case of feral pigs in a Neotropical wetland. Oryx, 45(1), 78–83. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605310001304