Wild boar in San Luis province, Argentina (2018)
Wild pigs, which include wild boar and feral domestic pigs, are infiltrating protected natural areas across Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
These pigs pose a significant threat to hundreds of species in 54 countries worldwide. They out-compete native species for food, alter landscapes, and carry diseases. A study conducted in 2021 revealed that 14 species have already gone extinct due to the direct impacts of wild pigs.
This phenomenon is part of a larger global trend. According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, invasive species have played a key role in 60% of global plant and animal extinctions.
Sebastián A. Ballari, an Argentinian biologist and researcher at CENAC, a research center in Nahuel Huapi National Park in Patagonia, is currently investigating the various impacts that wild boar and other introduced ungulates, such as red deer (Cervus elaphus) and cattle (Bos taurus), have on native ecosystems in Patagonia.
In a recent publication in the Journal for Nature Conservation, which Ballari co-authored, researchers found that the countries with the highest number of protected areas known to have wild pig presence were Uruguay (100%), followed by Chile (20.3%), Argentina (15.8%), Paraguay (9.5%), Bolivia (6.5%), and Brazil (4.7%).
Ballari emphasizes the importance of their work, as it represents the first assessment of wild pig potential distribution in South America. The study underscores the devastating impacts wild pigs can have on regional biodiversity and national conservation targets, particularly in mega-diverse areas. Ballari and his team are evaluating the ecological and economic consequences of these impacts, while also considering the perspectives of local residents and producers. The goal is to develop more effective management and control recommendations for the preservation of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the responsible use of resources.
Measuring the damage of wild boar rooting using a drone in grasslands of the Patagonian Steppe, … [+]
Call Of The Wild
Ballari, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, developed a deep passion for wild spaces from an early age.
He pursued his love for nature and wildlife by studying biology, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the National University of Comahue in Bariloche, Argentina. He furthered his education with a Master’s degree in Wildlife Management and a Ph.D. in Biology at the National University of Córdoba.
After completing his Ph.D., Ballari returned to Bariloche, where he conducted postdoctoral research and secured a full-time position as a research scientist at CONICET. He believes that including scientists from the Global South in research and decision-making is crucial to effectively address the complex challenges our world faces today.
Exploring locations for one of my projects in the Patagonian Steppe, Nahuel Huapi National Park … [+]
Crayfish Invasion
Another researcher from Latin America, Ada Acevedo-Alonso, is also studying invasive species.
In Colombia, the Louisiana crawfish (Procambarus clarkii), originally native to the southern United States, was introduced in the mid-1980s and has become an invasive species.
The introduction of the crawfish in Colombia occurred through an ICA permit in 1985 in Valle del Cauca for aquaculture purposes. However, it ultimately failed, and by 1988, the species had escaped to the Palmira River, establishing itself as an invasive species in the country.
Acevedo-Alonso’s research focuses on educating communities about the invasive crayfish species while also assessing its distribution and environmental impacts in freshwater ecosystems.
