Wild Boar Disturbance at Barandabhar Coridor Forest, Chitwan Nepal

Abstract

The rooting behavior of wild boar is the main cause of substrate disturbance. The excavation of the surface soil layers in the course of foraging for food, which creates a localized disturbance that appears similar to mechanical ploughing. In this study, data were collected using systematic plot sampling and sign survey method to investigate the sign distribution, disturbances, and habitat preference by the Wild boar in the Barandhabhar Corridor Forest, Chitwan. This study found the highest number of sign in sal forest habitat. A total of 107 plots, total of 10700 m 2 area was studied and 3.93 % area found rooted by wild boar. The grassland habitat was found to be more rooted compared to sal forest, wetland and riverine habitat in Barandabhar Corridor Forest. The average rooting depth by wild boar was 13.5 cm (±5.7 SD). Moderate level of disturbance was high which change the soil properties and initially effect negatively like ploughing root, mechanical damage of plant, changing the physical structure of soil. This study recommends the further study of rooting impact on ecosystem and substrate utilized by the wild boar.