Preliminary analysis of the diet of wild boar (Sus scrofa L., 1758) in an agro-ecosystem of central Punjab, Pakistan

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are considered serious agricultural pests in Pakistan. Th eir stomach contents were examined (n = 63) in central Punjab, Pakistan, and it was found that 32 types of food items were consumed. Triticum aestivum, Saccharum offi cinarum, Zea mays, Oryza sativa, Prosopis julifl ora, and earthworms were the main staples. Th e major components of the diet of wild boar in central Punjab originated from 58% cultivated crops, 30% uncultivated crops, 9% animal matter, and 3% unidentifi ed matter. Wheat made up 23% of the total dry weight. O. sativa was the most intensively consumed item during autumn (37.87%), followed by Z. mays (17.02%) and S. offi cinarum (7.66%). T. aestivum (29.45%), S. offi cinarum (22.26%), and earth worms (7.8%) were the most important food items in the winter, while wheat (55.90%) and P. juli fl ora (28.09%) were the most intensively consumed items during the spring and summer, respectively.