Wild Boar Damage to Oil Palm Plantings
Wild boars can be pests in new and replantings of oil palms. They dig up the whole clod of earth with roots. They pull out the young shoots and eat them. The incidence of damage depends on the weather and the wild boar population. The wild boar is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 but can be hunted with a permit. Various methods have been adopted to prevent or minimise wild boar damage.
1. In under plantings the base of oil palm fronds are stacked around the seedlings. The wild boar could not attack the seedlings because of the spikes/thorns of the fronds. These spikes/thorns poke the snout of the wild boars.
2. Wrapping the planted seedlings with old/used zinc sheets. The zinc sheets are about 1.5 foot high. This method prevents the wild boar from attacking/pulling out the young shoots. It is highly effective.
3. Wrapping the planted seedlings with plastic sheets This method is not effective.
