![]() From an animal welfare, hunting and research ethics perspective, it is critical to thoroughly assess how the capture process affects the animal. However, trapping wild boar has been criticised and is still a debated topic. Evaluation of live-trap capture of wild boars followed by killing inside the trap by gunshot was initiated in 2010, before approval as a new hunting method in Sweden. Population size management of wild boars in Sweden is predominantly carried out by hunting at bait sites or by driven hunts with hunting dogs. The wild boar ( Sus scrofa) population and its distribution is rapidly increasing in Sweden. We emphasize the inclusion of species-specific behavioural data assessment for evaluation of capture-related stress during live-trapping and for testing of new trap constructions before approval. Conclusionsīehavioural assessment provided valuable information for determination of capture-induced stress in wild boar when evaluating live-trapping in a corral-style trap, whereas pathological evaluation through necropsy did not fully reflect the animal welfare aspects of live-trapping. skin abrasions, subcutaneous haemorrhage). charging into the trap walls) were documented in trapped wild boars with no or minor physical injuries (e.g. Behavioural alterations indicative of capture-induced stress (e.g. Trap-related pathological findings due to trauma were documented in 13 of the 20 subadults that were necropsied. It was more common for animals to charge against the mesh walls of the trap upon human approach compared to upon initial capture when the trap door closed. Single captured individuals showed more escape behaviours and reacted more strongly to external stimuli than individuals captured in a group. However, we only found a difference between the evening and morning in the Wilcoxon matched pairs test after the Sequential Bonferroni correction, where the wild boars spent more time foraging in the evening than in the morning. Using Friedman’s ANOVA, there was an overall difference in the time spent foraging. The wild boars spent less time resting in the evening than in the night and morning. Selected behavioural traits were compared with pathological changes (trap-related lesions) found at necropsy of the 20 subadults, to determine if these variables were useful proxies of capture-induced stress in wild boar. Behavioural assessments were conducted after filming 12 capture events of in total 38 wild boars (five adults, 20 subadults, 13 piglets). For improved animal welfare evaluation, our aim was to study wild boar behaviour during live-trapping in a 16 m 2 square corral-style trap. ![]() ![]() ![]() Approval of trap constructions is based on gross necropsy findings of 20 trapped and shot wild boars. Live-trap capture of wild boar ( Sus scrofa) followed by killing inside the trap by gunshot is a recently introduced but disputed hunting method in Sweden. Trap-capture of wild animals should minimise negative effects on animal welfare, irrespective of whether the animals are trapped for hunting, research, or management purposes. Wildlife traps are used in many countries without evaluation of their effect on animal welfare. ![]()
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