Pets becoming established in the wild: free-living Vietnamese potbellied pigs in Spain
[EN]: Vietnamese potbellied (VPB) pigs (Sus scrofa) are a common pet in North America and Europe, but their recent decrease in popularity has increased their abandonment. Our main aim was to identify potential cases of free-living VPB pigs in Spain through an in-depth Google search. We identified 42...
| Authors: | , |
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| Format: | article |
| Status: | Published version |
| Publication Date: | 2013 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repository: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/142900 |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/142900 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Jabalí Comercio de mascotas Búsqueda en Google Cerdo asilvestrado Feral pig Google search Pet trade Wild boar |
| Summary: | [EN]: Vietnamese potbellied (VPB) pigs (Sus scrofa) are a common pet in North America and Europe, but their recent decrease in popularity has increased their abandonment. Our main aim was to identify potential cases of free-living VPB pigs in Spain through an in-depth Google search. We identified 42 cases of free-living VPB pigs distributed throughout the country. The number of free-living VPB pigs reported increased by year but the species abundance still seems to be low. Signs of VPB pig reproduction and possible hybrids between VPB pigs and wild boar or feral pigs have been also reported. Free-living VPB pigs could erode the gene pool of the Spanish wild boar population and exacerbate the damage (e.g. crop damage or spread of diseases) already caused by wild board. Urgent evaluation and adequate management of wild VPB pig sightings is needed to prevent their establishment in natural habitats. |
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