Though not a new problem, the presence of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Argentina is taking an ever-greater environmental and economic toll. Pressed by farmers and ranchers experiencing losses from wild-boar incursions on their lands, various provincial governments have recently authorized hunting of the invasive species, called jabalí in Spanish. Meanwhile, private groups have taken matters into their own hands by trapping and now also hunting the animals. In 2022, a report issued by the Argentine Environment Ministry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization declared wild boar Argentina’s most destructive invasive species, citing crop and soil damage totaling US$1.38 billion a year. The animals also pose risks to motorists, prompting police to warn drivers to be on the lookout for the boars. Scientists, however, caution that much remains unknown about the true impact of wild boar on native fauna, livestock, and humans. They say a nationwide... [Log in to read more]