Which explorer introduced domestic pigs to the Americas, starting in Caribbean islands in 1493?
Answer
Christopher Columbus.
The initial introduction of domestic pigs to the American continents, which subsequently led to robust feral populations, was carried out by European explorers. Specifically, Christopher Columbus is credited with bringing these animals to the Caribbean islands during his voyage in 1493. Later, Hernando De Soto continued this process by introducing pigs to the southeastern United States during the mid-1500s. These introductions set historical precedents for ecological conflict by competing with resources vital to early colonists and Native American tribes, a pattern relevant to modern ecological concerns.
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