Problems of Synurbization—Wild Boar in the City

Anna Rekiel, Marcin Sońta (), Justyna Więcek and Maja Dudzik
Additional contact information
Anna Rekiel: Institute of Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
Marcin Sońta: Institute of Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
Justyna Więcek: Institute of Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
Maja Dudzik: Faculty of Animal Breeding, Bioengineering and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: This work addresses the problem of synurbization, with its causes and effects specified using the example of wild boar ( Sus scrofa ). It presents basic biological parameters of the species, including those that promote its synurbization—small habitat demands, omnivorism, as well as ecological, behavioral, and demographic flexibility. It also discusses intra-species transformations stemming from wild boar adaptation to the urban space and pinpoints habitat fragmentation, ecological restoration, and phenotypic flexibility as the underlying causes of people–wild boar interactions. These interactions are primarily negative because wild boars attack humans and domestic animals and cause many traffic accidents. An analysis of the literature included in this study shows that, unfortunately, there are currently no fully effective methods that could protect urban areas and their inhabitants from the threats posed by wild boars. In order for sustainable urban development policies to be effectively implemented, there is a need for intensive, holistic research and cooperation between experts in many fields: wildlife, economics, public health, sociology, ethics, psychology, and urban planning. The synurbanization of wild boars is a large and growing social problem, but from an ecological perspective, there is a need to take action and develop methods to mitigate human/wild animal conflicts, not only from a human perspective. A one-sided view and action can be a threat to many animal species.

Keywords: synurbization; wild boar; human–wildlife interactions; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/8988/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/8988/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:8988-:d:1768356

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().