Case report of a dog killed and consumed by wild boars: forensic necropsy and genetic analysis.

What is it about?

The remains of a dog allegedly killed by wolves were submitted for forensic analysis. Wolf predation was ruled out based on gross findings and wild boar aggression was suspected instead. Genetic analysis of salivary swab samples confirmed that wild boars fed on the dog.

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Why is it important?

The increase in the wolf population in Italy has caused a resurgence of conflicts with human activities, especially in areas of recent recolonization. The prejudicial attribution to the wolf in episodes of predation on dogs in Italy, could favour the occurrence of retaliation killings (usually poaching with firearms, traps or poison), which still represent one of the main threats to the species. For this reason it is essential to establish with certainty the identity of the predator in cases of aggression, whether on livestock or on pet animals. This is the first report of the combined use of forensic pathology and genetics to allow identification of wild boar as being responsible for a case of aggression and consumption on a hunting dog.

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