The non-native feral pig in Hawaii and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a major disruptive component of native rain forest and grassland habitats. The exotic pig was first introduced to Hawaii by early Polynesians more than 1,200 years ago. European breeds of pigs were introduced to Hawaii in 1778 by Captain James Cook and during the nearly 200 years since that time, a large number of pigs of a wide variety of domesticated breeds have been brought to the islands. The pig is an omnivore and a scavenger. In the rain forest and grassland communities of the park, it feeds on vegetation, insects, earthworms, ground nesting birds, eggs and rodents. It commonly scavenges on remains of dead cattle, goats and other pigs. In the rain forest, its chief diet is the starchy interior pulp of the tree fern. The pig's habits of hollowing out interiors of tree ferns and making mud wallows creates micro-aquatic habitats for mosquitoes, other insects and various small crustacea. Because pigs create mosquito habitat in areas where these insects would not normally occur, the pig through spread of mosquito borne avian malaria and birdpox is an indirect threat to the extinction of native birds. By the making of trails, mud wallows, mosquito habitat, and by its rooting activities, tusking of tree trunks and by its role in spreading weedy, nonnative plant species, the exotic pig in Hawaii is also endangering native forest and grassland communities.
|
