Reproductive and demographic parameters in Sardinian wild boar, Sus scrofa meridionalis

In Sardinia island (Central Italy) the wild boar is originally present with an endemic subspecies, Sus scrofa meridionalis. To evaluate its demographic and reproductive characteristics, we analysed data on the harvest bags of two hunting seasons (2011-2012 and 2012-2013) in the province of Olbia-Tempio (North-Eastern Sardinia). We collected data of 325 Sardinian wild boars. Sex-ratio did not differ significantly from the theoretical distribution 1:1. We examined 175 females; thirty-five percent of them were in breeding condition, with 56 pregnant and five lactating females. Gestation was more frequent in heavier females than in the lighter ones. The mean number of foetuses per litter was 4.2 ± 1.2 (range two-seven), with no differences between the hunting seasons. There was an evidence of seasonality in reproduction period; the mating season appeared to occur primarily in late autumn and in winter, whereas farrowing mainly occurred from March to May (56 % of births), with a minimum in summer (5 % of births).