The big wild boar is a big pig that is quite popular with hunters. Its popularity is because these animals are very good at killing prey. Moreover, their size and weight allow them to carry huge loads of food, which can make their hunting extremely lucrative.
Ussuri Boar
The Ussuri wild boar is one of the largest subspecies of wild boar. It can be found in parts of Russia and Eastern China. This big wild boar is also a hazardous animal. Although most of the time, it will avoid human settlements, they can still attack humans.
Depending on the region, the Ussuri wild boar can weigh anywhere from 400 kg to 800 kg. However, some individuals can exceed these weights.
Wild boars have thick skin that helps them to protect themselves from attacks. Their skin also helps them to regulate their body temperature. They can be found in forests throughout Asia.
There are three main subspecies of wild boar. These are the Manchurian, the Middle Asian, and the Carpathian. Each subspecies has its characteristics.
The Manchurian wild boar is the largest subspecies. This wild boar is usually black during the summer. During the winter, its coat changes to gray or light brown.
Middle Asian Boar
A wild boar is the extant wild ancestor of the domestic pig. There are eleven species of wild pigs in Southeast Asia. Several of them are threatened. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Online) includes Sus scrofa.
The genetic diversity of East Asian wild boars is complex. Despite their widespread distribution, the genetic structure is poorly understood. Phylogenetic analyses of East Asian pigs contain haplotypes from ten locations in six countries. However, a lack of acceptable geographic resolution results from the lack of genetic differentiation between wild boar populations.
There are three main clades of wild boars. These clades are found in East Asia, India, and Southeast Asia. Each clade has its unique geographic pattern. In addition, some of the samples in each clade are isolated pockets that evolved into new species.
The clades are referred to as the Pacific Clade (MC2), the Central Asian Boar (CAB), and the MTSEA. CAB and MTSEA are named in part because of their distribution.
Carpathian Boar
The Carpathian wild boar is a large subspecies of boar. This omnivore feeds on berries, nuts, and tubers. They are usually harmless but can be aggressive during mating or when feeding their young.
The Carpathian wild boar is mainly found in Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine. Their habitat ranges from high altitudes of Carpathian forests to swamps in the Danube Delta.
The Carpathian wild boar can grow to a massive size of more than 800 pounds. They have dark hair and tusks. They prefer to eat tubers and rhizomes.
Wild boars can be a nuisance in many areas of the world because of the damage they can cause to crops. Their populations are expanding rapidly because of favorable factors such as climate change, reforestation, and supplementary feeding. However, wild boars can also be a problem for humans. They are considered a pest when they invade farmlands or if they attack people.
They are the apex predators of the Carpathians in Romania. The grey wolf is also present in the area. Both the wolves and the boars have an important role in the regulation of the ecosystem.
Giant forest hog
The giant forest hog is a large wild boar found in Africa’s rainforests. It is one of the largest members of the said family. They are usually found in the rainforests of central and western Africa.
Males are extremely aggressive. This species has been known to attack without warning. When a male is threatened, he will make a shrill cracking noise and bristle at his hair. He also has scent glands.
The giant forest hog is nocturnal. It is commonly found in lowland rainforests and montane forests. They are also found in savannah grasslands.
They can grow to a height of 1.3 to 2.1 meters in head and body length. Their tails can measure 25 to 45 cm in length. Giant forest hogs weigh between 180 and 275 kg.
These pigs are considered to be the largest wild swine in the world. They are mostly herbivores but can also scavenge. The African giant forest hog is prone to sleeping sickness because of parasitic protozoa that are carried by the tsetse fly.