More on the Feral Pig: How an Invasive Species is Preserving Pantanal Biodiversity

As Matt mentioned about a month ago, the Feral Pig is a rare example of an invasive species that isn't out-competing local occupants for resources. The introduced Feral Pig and the native peccary occupy different niches, allowing them to coexist in the Pantanal.

However, more than not threatening local species, Feral Pigs are helping to preserve biodiversity in the Pantanal. Before the introduction of the Feral Pig, hunting bush meat was a major threat to the Pantanal's native species. The introduction of these pigs allowed for the recovery of many species since the Panataneiros actually prefer hunting Feral Pigs due to their reliable source of protein, oil, and fat.

The Feral Pig population maintains regulated as a result of local intervention and natural pressure. Young pigs are often separated from their mothers when they are being chased by hunters, leading to high mortality rates for juvenile Feral Pigs. Additionally, hunters have taken to castrating young males and then releasing them into the wild where they will mature but not increase the Feral Pig population. Feral Pigs are also severely affected by flooding in the Pantanal since it decreases their availability of resources. All of these interactions ensure that the Feral Pig population doesn't increase to the point where it becomes detrimental to the Pantanal's native species.

The introduction of the Feral Pig is an example of human intervention that resulted in a win-win situation for both the Pantaneiros and the Pantanal's biodiversity.

~ Megan Good

Sources:
http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0506-santana-invasive-pigs.html