The cultural and land use implications of the reappearance of the wild boar in North West Italy: A case study of the Val di Vara

This paper examines the implications of the reappearance in the mid twentieth century of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) in North West Italy after an absence of more than a century. Historical evidence is used to document reasons for its disappearance and attitudes to its absence. A case study based on oral history interviews of 50 farmers and hunters in the Val di Vara, eastern Liguria, is used to investigate when and how the wild boar reappeared in the valley and first memories of the animal. A strong link between rural depopulation, land abandonment, unplanned rewilding and the spread of the wild boar is established. The paper identifies that wild boar cause considerable damage to horticultural and agricultural crops through their habit of rooting over extensive areas. The research demonstrates that the reappearance of wild boar was actively encouraged by hunters. The rapid spread of the boar changed the culture of hunting in the valley. The research shows that a balance between controlling the wild boar population and the socio-cultural values of hunting has yet to be found.