engleski

Effect of hunting method on cortisol concentrations in the wild boar serum

The objective of this study was to determine cortisol concentration in the serum of hunted wild boar in Croatia. Blood samples were collected during regular hunting season in the period between November 2018 and January 2020. Blood samples were taken from wild boar hunted using two most common methods: driven (n=139) and individual hunt (n=61) from high seats. Additionally, animals obtained by driven hunt were divided on those hunted in the unfenced areas (n=83) and fenced area (N=56). Fencing was considered as possible source of additional stress. Serum cortisol was determined using an enzyme immunoassay kit (Cortisol ELISA kit, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.). Differences in cortisol concentration were observed between analysed hunting methods. As potential stress- related indicator, mean cortisol concentration was the highest in serum of wild boar culled during fenced driven hunt (327.18±46.53 nmol/l). In unfenced driven hunt mean cortisol concentration was slightly lower (312.57±35.57 nmol/L). Individual hunt from high-seats had the lowest (p<0.0001) determined cortisol levels (33.70±4.28 nmol/L). Driven hunt with dogs is a hunting method with the highest hunting pressure and it is obviously relevant for higher pre-culling stress. Individual hunting resulted in cortisol concentrations that could be considered as the one closest to the baseline levels for wild boar. To strengthen our findings and obtain more insights into the influence of different hunting methods on stress in wild boar we need to investigate the cortisol of more animals under different circumstances and longer period.

stress ; Sus scrofa ; hunting

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