Abstract: Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a major prey species of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). In order to understand the status of prey resources, we conducted large-plot surveys in the southern part of Laoyeling, Heilongjiang, China, which is one of the main strongholds of wild Amur tiger population, during the snow cover periods in winter of 2016, 2018 and 2019. We collected information on the footprints of wild boar and analyzed population density, population number, and distribution of wild boar. Based on the presence data, the habitat suitability of wild boar was evaluated using MaxEnt model. The results showed that population density of wild boar was 1.07±0.01 individuals·km^-2, and the population size was 3436-3518 individuals. Population density was the highest in the Laoyeling Amur Tiger National Nature Reserve and Muling Japanese Yew National Nature Reserve. The results of habitat analysis showed that environmental variables—cropland (36.0%), evergreen coniferous forest (23.2%), road (7.5%), grassland (7.1%), mixed broadleaf-conifer forest (5.2%), and altitude (2.2%)—had significant effects on the habitat suitability of wild boar. There were 499.28 km² of suitable habitat, accounting for 15.36% of the total area. Combining the long-term monitoring data of the Amur tiger and the results from this study, we conclude that the protection and restoration of wild boar population outside the reserve is important for realizing the migration of the Amur tiger from the south to the north of the Laoyeling Mountains, meeting the needs of the Amur tiger for prey resources, and realizing the gradual reproduction of wild Amur tiger population in China.

Key words: wild boar, population status, habitat suitability, MaxEnt model.