The wild boar, which belongs to the genus Sus and the family of pigs (Suidae), is considered the wild ancestor of domestic pigs. This species is native to many parts of central and northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia, but has also been introduced in some areas (notably Australia and the Americas). Although animals have long been prized for food and recreational hunting, they have also come to be considered agricultural pests and a threat to the ecosystem. The recent widespread intensification of wild boar populations has sparked interest in animals as meat producers and also as a potential species for farming. Today, wild boars are bred in Canada, Japan, the United States and the Americas.