Wild Boar

Wild Boar belongs to the Suidae family of mammals and is native to regions of Eurasia and North Africa and according to the IUCN’s Red list is categorized as least concern due to its widespread range, high population, and adaptability to a number of diverse environments.

Physical Characteristics

This species of mammal has stocky, powerful bodies with a double layer of gray-brown fur with the top layer consisting of harsh and bristly hair and the underlayer, a much softer layer of fur. The wild boar is a large animal that stands up to 90 cm tall at the shoulder and weighs between 60 to 100 kg, although in some parts of the world they have been observed to weigh over 200kg! With a hump behind the shoulder, it has a large head which takes up almost one-third of its body. Given the deep set, small eyes, it has poor eyesight and has long and broad ears but has a long, straight snout which provides for a sharp sense of smell. The boars have developed canines, and tusks, which are bigger and protrude outwards in male boars.

Habitat and Distribution

The Wild Boar is an animal that has been distributed widely across countries and habitats and have been classified under 4 main species namely:

• Western: They all have thick underwool, and the majority have high skulls and have poorly developed manes.
• Indian: These have sparse or absent underwool, long manes, and prominent bands on the snout and mouth.
• Eastern: These have a whitish streak extending from the corners of the mouth to the lower jaw. Most are high-skulled with thick underwool and no mane.
• Indonesian: Only one subspecies which has sparse body hair, no underwool, a fairly long mane, and a broad reddish band extending from the muzzle to the sides of the neck. It is the least evolved of the four groups in terms of cranial structure, brain size and teeth.

Diet and Hunting

Wild Boars are omnivorous in nature which means they eat both plants and animals and spend most of their time searching for food on the forest floor with their snout and and are opportunistic feeders. Major part of their diet consists of roots, bulbs, seeds, nuts, grass, and fruits. They also eat small mammals, eggs of birds, earthworms, invertebrates, snakes, and the decaying flesh of other animals.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Winter is the breeding season for wild boars after which the females give birth to a litter of 3 to 12 piglets in spring with a gestation period of 112 to 115 days. For the birth, the mother prepares a nest of grass, leaves and moss where the babies are born. The piglets are born light ginger brown in color with stripes on their coat which helps them camouflage in the wild which disappear after 3 to 4 months. The piglets become independent at 7 months old and reach adult coloration at the age of 1 years. It takes them 5-6 years to reach the full size.

Wild boars live for 15 to 20 years.

Behavior and Social Structure

Wild boars are nocturnal animals that search for food during the night and spend 12 hours of the day sleeping in a dense net of leaves. Female boars are social animals and live in groups of 6 to 30 which are known as sounders. On the contrary, male boars are solitary creatures that live alone except during the breeding season when they stay within these sounders.

Conservation Efforts

According to the IUCN’s Red list, wild boars are categorized as least concern due to its widespread range, high population, and adaptability to a number of diverse environments. Wild boars are hunted mainly for meat, trophies and their tusks. Some species of the wild boar are threatened due to loss of habitat and the growing encroachment of human population. When the wild boar searches for food on the forest floor with its snout, it in turns plows the soil which clears up space for seeds, flowers, and shrubs and helps them to germinate. By exposing buried seeds, they also provide food for the birds. In the United Kingdom, where the wild boars were once a native species, had gone extinct during the middle ages due to excessive hunting but are now seen around England and Wales, although less in numbers. Today, in India these wild boars exist in the national parks and sanctuaries as well as in its forests.

Amazing Facts about Wild Boars

• Even with their bulky bodies, wild boars are excellent swimmers and are also able to run very fast.
• Wild Boars have an amazing sense of smell and can smell for food up to 25 ft underground!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between wild boars and pigs?

The fur of wild boars is more dense and coarse as compared to domesticated pigs, have a mane of hair that runs along the spine, and have longer snouts.

Are wild boars herbivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous?

Wild Boars are omnivorous in nature which means they eat both plants and animals, and spend most of their time searching for food on the forest floor with their snout and are opportunistic feeders.

Where can I see wild boars in India?

The Wild boar can be found in the following protected areas:

• Ranthambore National Park
• Kanha National Park
• Bandhavgarh National Park
• Kaziranga National Park
• Sariska Tiger Reserve

Are wild boars an endangered species?

According to the IUCN’s Red list, wild boars are categorized as least concern due to its widespread range, high population, and adaptability to a number of diverse environments.

Do all wild boars have tusks?

Yes, both male and female boars have tusks, but tusks are bigger and protrude outwards in male boars.

How fast are wild boars?

Wild boars can run pretty fast and can run at an average speed of 40 km/h.