This report offers an extensive, standardized synthesis of wild boar movement and social behaviour parameters relevant to African Swine Fever (ASF) control, derived from GPS-telemetry data spanning 13 European countries. It provides a descriptive analysis of data from 743 wild boars, totalling nearly 3.9 million GPS points collected from 2003 to 2024. The results indicated that wild boar movement is generally sedentary, with a median maximum displacement of about 1 km every 14 days, although cumulative travel distances can reach up to 50 km in the corresponding period. Movement and contact patterns show substantial variability, with a small fraction of wild boars displaying high movement and contact intensity, representing key risk factors for ASF spread. The analysis reveals notable seasonal, demographic, and environmental effects on wild boar behaviour. Movement rates and home range sizes peak in autumn and winter, especially among males, who cover larger areas and engage in more inter-group interactions than females. The landscape also plays an important role: areas with intermediate levels of forest cover and forest-agricultural mosaics tend to show higher movement rates and more frequent contacts between groups and with pig farms. Population density also influences spatial behaviour, with denser populations resulting in smaller home ranges but more frequent interactions among wild boar groups and with pig farms. The study’s findings highlight the importance of considering heterogeneity in movement and contact patterns when designing ASF management strategies. The data supports targeted biosecurity measures during high-risk periods and for mobile cohorts, particularly male wild boars during the mating season. The report provides a quantitative foundation for ASF risk assessment, spatial modelling, and surveillance, emphasizing the need for ongoing data collection and more precise modelling to improve ASF control across Europe.

EU; en; pdf; BIOHAW@efsa.europa.eu