Habitat model for wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul

Abstract

Since the first known sighting in 2004, wild boar have frequently appeared in Seoul causing increased human–wildlife conflicts. Although South Korea designated wild boar as a ‘pest’ species, limited ecological information exists concerning habitat preference and use of the largest wild mammal in the country. Based on 213 presence points, we modeled wild boar habitat preference in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul and validated the model. We analyzed boar presence with 25 raster datasets using MaxEnt, software for species distribution model using maximum entropy modeling algorithm. Slope (23.4%) was the greatest contributing factor for the habitat model, followed by Temperature seasonality (20.4%) and forest type (16.9%), while Precipitation of driest quarter (37.6%) was the most important factor (normalized contribution) of the model, followed by Temperature seasonality (18.9%) and slope (15.4%). Field verification of the model confirmed that the density of boar signs and rooting are twice as high in the area with high MaxEnt values (over 0.7). The habitat model of wild boar will assist habitat management and further our understanding of how to mitigate human–wild boar conflict.