Distribution and biometry of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Como and Varese Provinces

The following study contains and analyses data about the wild boar (Sus scrofa) hunted in the Como and Varese provinces from October 1993 to January 1994. These populations have been formed from individuals which have been illegally introduced continuously since 1978 in the Varese province and since the mid 80s in the Como province. Some of them have also come from the neighbouring Switzerland. Biometric analyses were carried out on 189 specimens, and were divided into age and sex classes. We considered 8 measurements for some external morphological characteristics and 28 for the skull structure. For each specimen the age class was evaluated by tooth growth analysis. The possible presence of fetuses in every female was also checked. The data collected by the Veterinary Service (U.S.S.L.) enabled us to identify the main diseases of the studied populations. Frequent cases of tuberculosis were observed.