The order of ungulates is represented in our Central European forests, in addition to deer belonging to the group of true ruminants, by a group of pig-like artiodactyls (Choeromorpha). The latter consists of real pigs, peccaries and hippos. The main representative in our forests is the wild boar. The wild boar animal is very interesting, so we will devote this description to it.

The boar does not regurgitate the cud, has a simple stomach consisting of one section and incisors in the upper jaw; the lower canines differ sharply from the incisors. Boars differ from camels and true ruminants, except for a different dental system, in that the bones of their legs, which are the direct continuation of the two main fingers upwards, never merge - this feature they share, however, at least in part, with African deer.

In Central Europe, only one family of wild boars (Suidae) is found from this group, consisting of three living genera. The animals belonging to it are characterized by a very long head with a muzzle ending in a movable trunk, bearing at the end a rounded cartilage with nostrils. The legs of pigs end in four well-developed fingers, the outer pair of which, however, does not touch the ground, and the inner one is flattened. The fangs grow throughout life, with the upper ones curving up rather than down.

The ears of wild boars are long and drooping: a rather long round tail ends in a tassel of hair; body cover consists of sparse bristly hair; the neck is short and thick, poorly demarcated both from the body and from the head, which the animal therefore carries low.

Spreading

All three genera of this family are characteristic exclusively of the European part. The species belonging to them like to live in damp and swampy areas and willingly wallow in damp silt. In Europe, only one of these genera has representatives - the pig (Sus), which includes the most typical species of the family. This genus is characterized by a dental system consisting of 44 teeth; of these, the short upper canine, curved upward, has a smooth surface on the outside, resulting from its friction against the lower canine, which thus sets a limit to its growth. At the same time, the upper canine prevents the lower canine from growing. If, however, one of the fangs breaks, the other is enabled to continue its growth uninterruptedly; since the tooth is bent, the matter usually ends with its end being embedded in some part of the skull and thereby often causing the death of the animal.

The wild representatives of this extremely fertile genus usually have, in addition to the bristly hair covering their body, a more or less developed undercoat; cubs of all wild-living species have an outfit dotted with light and dark longitudinal stripes. Before the extermination of many species of wild pigs by humans, this genus was very widespread and is represented in Europe, Africa, South and Central Asia, Japan and the Malay Archipelago. The bush pigs, peculiar exclusively to Africa, however, constitute a special subgenus group.

European boar or boar

Description of the species

Our wild boar or boar (Sus scrofa), the only member of the pig family in Europe, is black-brown in color, which often turns black-gray in winter, and turns dark brown or reddish in summer. Newborn piglets are decorated with brown longitudinal stripes on a yellow-gray main background. Resembling, in general, its physique like a domestic pig, the wild boar differs significantly from it in the structure of the head.

The latter occupies almost a third of the length of the entire body and is especially remarkable for the structure of its trunk, which forms a swollen edge at the end and is controlled by strong muscles. With this trunk, the female boar, the pig, blows up the earth and can sometimes turn away very large blocks of earth.

The main tool of the male is the fangs, the so-called tusks, and, moreover, mainly the lower ones. The fangs of the upper jaw are in most cases short and blunt, while the lower ones already in a two-year-old boar are directed vertically upwards and go beyond the edge of the trunk.

These tusks are most dangerous of all in a three-year-old boar, in which they have greatly elongated, but still stick straight up; their blow is significantly weakened when they bend backwards, in the fourth year of a boar's life. The older this latter becomes, the less harm he can do with his tusks; the upper ones become more and more curved every year and can gradually bend over the ridge of the trunk, while the lower ones rub off with age, often break or simply fall out. In the female, the place of tusks is occupied by smaller fangs, the so-called hooks, the impact of which is not dangerous.

The pig therefore defends itself by biting and trampling on its enemy, continuing to do so until it finishes him off. The habit of stopping over the enemy, and not injuring him in passing, makes her even more dangerous than a boar. The boar's eyes are barely visible from the outside; they are placed very deep in the eye-socket and, moreover, are protected by a tuft of bristly hair. The ears stick up and are usually directed somewhat backward.

The front part of the boar's body is much more developed than the back; it is connected with a huge head by a short thick neck and rests on short but slender legs. The animal is higher at the nape than at the sacrum. On the shoulders, between the skin and muscles, he develops a white, as it were, horny mass, the layer of which sometimes reaches two fingers of thickness.

For an animal, it represents a kind of shield, does not miss a bullet fired from a medium distance, and helps to weaken the blows inflicted by rivals on each other during fights. Hunters also call the crust that forms on the skin of wild boars from friction on the trunks of coniferous trees and consists of a hardened layer of resin. The boar wears its short tail while running, horizontally or slightly bending it upwards; on the contrary, the tail hangs when the boar digs in the ground. The track of wild boars is very similar to the track of deer, but differs from them in that the hind hooves also leave an imprint on the ground, which almost never happens with deer.

The weight of wild boars found in Central Europe in the first year of life is 25-40, in the second - 50-70, in the third - 80-100, and in the fourth - 100-125 kilograms.

reproduction

Boars are capable of breeding even before reaching full growth, already at the age of one and a half years. Mating time begins during the month of November and continues until February. In some individuals of the wild boar, however, estrus is very irregular, which is why you meet striped piglets throughout the year. Outside of the breeding season, old males lead a solitary life, while wild boars, equal in strength, often fight very fiercely during it.

Weaker males simply deviate from the herd if they stick to it. Often they visit domestic pigs, as a result of which crossbreeds occur, which are very undesirable for owners who care about the purity of the breed: such bastards are distinguished by a wild and shy disposition and are poorly fattened.

After 20 weeks, in young females, even after 18-19 weeks of pregnancy, the pig tosses from 4 to 12 piglets, younger queens usually have 4-6, old 10-12 cubs. The mother carefully guards them and protects them in time of danger very courageously; she hurries over to them at the slightest hint of unease in their voice.

Habitat and habits

Wild boars are less attached to the forest than the deer we have considered. They most willingly choose for their residence the calm forests, replete with thickets, which provide them with a safe shelter during the day.

An old male prepares a lair for himself here under a spreading spruce or in a dense bush, which he constantly uses, it is a depression in the ground, lined with moss and ferns. There were times when wild boars lay in some insignificant shrub in the middle of the field, while in the neighborhood there was a large continuous forest. It is possible that such an unusual rookery was due to weather conditions.

At least, it is believed that wild boars choose sunny, sheltered places for their rest in cold weather, and in the warm season they prefer shady and cool northern slopes. However, pigs are considered animals rather unreasonable in their actions, with the onset of evening twilight a herd of wild boars rises from their lairs and runs, stopping from time to time and rummaging in the ground, to a cultivated field, to a place sown with acorns, or to a beech clearing abounding in mice. Animals are often alert, draw in air to make sure that there is no danger, and become especially cautious when leaving the thicket to an open place, crossing the road or having to cross a fence.

Alert, they hold the trunk high up. Noticing anything suspicious, the boars make a sound that resembles either a sneeze or a cough, and then suddenly disappear without the slightest noise; it looks like they've sunk into the ground. Some bright object, a slight crackling of a broken branch, is already enough to drive away shy animals, in which the lack of vision is fully compensated by excellently developed hearing and smell. Boars recognize the hunter by smell, not by sight.

Pursued by a pack of dogs or forced by something else, wild boars do not hesitate to rush even into wide and stormy rivers, while showing great skill and endurance in swimming. In general, wild boars are great lovers of shallow ponds and swamps, in which they look for food and ride in the mud.

Nutrition

In addition to various plant substances, various forest and field fruits, roots and mushrooms, the wild boar feeds on insect larvae, worms, snails, bird eggs, as well as mice and other small animals. He does not neglect either snakes in general, or vipers in particular: he eats game and carrion caught in snares and traps, in a word, this is an omnivore animal, one can also say that a wild boar is a predatory animal.

But as a result, it is harmful to the economy, especially agriculture. But a wild boar in general cannot be called a dangerous animal: even a wounded one, he tries to disappear as soon as possible in the nearest thicket. It was quite rightly pointed out that it is still impossible to speak of a wild boar attacking a person if you catch him by surprise in some thicket covered with snow and he, suddenly rising and wanting to slip past the disturber, stabs the latter with a tusk and after that disappears. An attack on a person can only be discussed when the animal rushes at a person without being affected by it.

The latter, however, is very rare, and the few cases related to it seem to indicate that the attacking boars were mentally abnormal. We must explain all such attacks, which are sometimes carried out also by deer and roe deer, by a violation of the mental activity of the animal; the nature of the pig is contrary to such an unreasonable display of savagery.

Even a wounded boar rushes at the hunter only as an exception, in most cases he runs after the shot, not paying any attention to his enemy. On the other hand, if you get too close to a wounded, laid down animal, then quite often it itself already goes on the attack, but there is nothing surprising in this, as well as in the fact that the female always rushes at a person if he is going to steal piglets from her .

Life expectancy and causes of death

With good food, a wild boar lives up to about twenty years. He is subject to only one infectious disease that quickly kills him - angina pectoris. The enemy of the boar is winter. If the snow is covered with crust, then these animals, falling through it, very easily injure their front legs, and the developing inflammatory process brings them to death.

In New Zealand, the wild boar is found in huge numbers and is descended from feral domestic pigs. In the UK, it has been completely extirpated.

Experienced hunters probably had to meet in the forest with such an animal as a wild boar, hunting for him. They are found not only in forests, but also in desert areas. What is this animal, where does the boar live and what does it look like? We will talk about this in the article and learn a lot of interesting things about the life of a wild animal.

Animal boar and its description

The boar is the ancestor of the domestic pig. The mammalian animal belongs to the order artiodactyls, suborder porcine, a genus of boars of the pig family. The animal also has other names: billhook; boar; wild pig.

Despite the fact that the boar originated from a domestic pig, outwardly it differs from a domestic animal. He has more tight and short body, the legs are thicker and taller in size. Its head is taller and thinner, and its ears are also longer and sharper. Moreover, the ears are erect, not like those of a domestic pig.

The boar constantly growing lower fangs. In males, they are more developed than in females, larger and protrude from the mouth. On the back, due to the thick bristles, something like a mane is formed. It rises with a crest when the boar is in an aggressive state. In the cold season, underfur grows under the bristles.

The stubble on the body has black-brown color with a reddish tint. The downs are brownish-gray in color and all together creates a general color in gray-brown-black tones. The rest of the body - legs, tail and muzzle are black in color. The color of animals depends on the habitat, it can be black and very light, almost whitish. Such specimens are found in the area of ​​Lake Balkhash.

The dimensions of the animal in height up to 1 meter at the withers and body length up to 175 cm. The average weight of a boar is usually about 100 kg, but there are larger animals weighing up to 150–200 kg. In Eastern Europe, these animals can weigh up to 275 kg, and in Manchuria and Primorye up to 0.5 tons.

Females are smaller than males, their height at the withers is up to 90 cm and maximum can weigh up to 160 kg. Their life expectancy is usually 14 years, but in captivity they can live longer up to 20 years when the area becomes protected.

Habitat

These animals prefer to settle in wooded areas and swampy areas. Boars live throughout the European part to the Scandinavian Peninsula. They also live in Asia and in the northern part of Transbaikalia, the Far East, in the south of Siberia.

Vepri live in Argentina as well in Central and North America. Boars inhabited North Africa, but hunting for them was too popular, so they were practically exterminated.

These animals can live in various places on our planet, even in tropical forests and in the desert. In Europe, wild boars like to live in oak and beech forests. There are many swampy areas, fields and meadows. Boars prefer to settle in Central Asia in deciduous and spruce forests, as well as in walnut-fruit groves.

Boars cannot stay in one place for a long time, therefore migrate in search of food. Wild boars are looking for habitats with large yields or grow a variety of food. In the European part, the largest population is in Sweden, over 1,000 individuals.

Behavior and nutrition

The way of life of males differs from females. Males prefer solitude, live alone. Females gather in groups with cubs, their total number can be up to 50 individuals. Males come to the group only during the mating season.

Wild boars hunt in the morning or evening hours in search of food. At night and during the day, wild boars like to rest quietly. Animals have keen hearing and sense of smell. Their eyesight is rather weak, so they are more guided by other senses.

Boars love to eat plant food They are in constant search for new and fresh food. With well-developed fangs, boars dig the ground and dig out the following:

• roots;
• plant bulbs;
• tubers.

Boars also like to eat other types of vegetation:

• Berries.
• Fruit.
• Nuts.

In spring and summer, animals eat with pleasure:

1. Young grass.
2. Leaves of shrubs and trees.
3. Shoots.

Since wild boars eat not only plant foods, they also eat food of animal origin using:

• bird eggs;
• snakes;
• frogs;
• fish;
• insects;
• worms.

Adults also attack larger food of animal origin, such as lambs or young deer, and do not disdain carrion.

Boars are excellent swimmers, they are remarkably able to swim and are able to overcome more distance in the water. The animal can easily swim across the river or lakes O. Despite their large weight, wild boars run fast, therefore, are considered dangerous enemies for many animals.

Reproduction of wild boars and females

The average lifespan of a wild boar is 10–12 years. From September to December, wild boars are rutting. In males, a protective subcutaneous shell appears - the thickness of the muscle is 2–3 cm.

It is located on the sides and serves as protection against attack by enemies. It also helps to protect against the fangs of a rival during the mating season in the fight for a female. During this period, they accumulate additional fat.

In the mating season among males goes constant struggle for females. During this period, they lose weight and their strength. Many wounds appear on their body, but it's worth it, because the male can get up to 8 females for mating.

The female bears cubs for about 115 days, they appear in April number of 2-3 piglets. This number occurs only in females who give birth for the first time, then she gives birth to 4–5 cubs.

There were cases when the female managed to give birth to 10-12 piglets. The offspring always remains with the mother, she feeds him with her milk for about 3.5 months. Sexual maturity in females begins at one and a half years, and in males at 5–6 years.

People have long hunted wild boars, so the main enemy of this animal is man. Primarily hunting for the skin of an animal, although its meat is considered very tasty and nutritious.

The boar is a member of the artiodactyl family of pigs. Forms a separate genus. It has another name - boar or wild pig.

Externally, it is very different from the house counterpart. The boar is denser. Compared to the domestic pig, it has longer legs. The head is elongated. They have long erect ears. Males have large lower and upper fangs. The fur on the body is long and stiff, thicker in winter and rarer in summer. It can be dark grey, brown or black. There is a mane on the head and back. The muzzle, legs and tail are usually black. In some regions of Central Asia, light individuals can be found.

Boar dimensions

A wild boar can have a different size, it depends on the area where it lives. The northern inhabitants are larger than the southern ones. The smallest wild boars live in southeast Asia and south India, their weight is about 45 kg. Individuals living in the Carpathians can weigh up to 200 kg. The largest representatives of the genus live in the northeastern part of Europe, up to the Urals. Their weight reaches 300 kg. The largest recorded weight of this animal was 320 kg. In Italy, you can find a wild boar weighing 150 kg, and in France - 230 kg.

On average, the weight of an adult varies from 80 to 120 kg. Their body length reaches 0.9-2 meters. At the withers they grow to 55-110 cm in height.

They have a tail, the length of which is 15-40 cm. Males have long fangs sticking out. Females, unlike males, have small fangs that are not visible externally. The offspring of wild boars up to 6 months of age differ in color from adults, light, yellow and brown stripes run along their body. This color is excellent camouflage from predators.

Wild boar habitat

Wild boars are common inhabitants of Russian forests.

The preferred habitat is wooded areas and swampy areas. The wild boar loves to lie in the swamp mud. Representatives of this genus live in Europe, central, southeastern and eastern parts of Asia, the Middle East, India and northern Africa. In the steppe area, mountains and arid territories, this animal is not found.

The wild boar lives in some regions of Siberia, it can be found in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the southern part of the Irkutsk Region. To date, he lives in the forests of the Moscow region, and in the territories located to the north. In search of food, it can climb highland meadows, but the height should not exceed 3300 meters. In Kazakhstan and Central Asia, he chose coniferous and deciduous forests for living, in the Caucasus - fruit forests.

In the 13th century, these animals disappeared from Great Britain, in the 19th century from Denmark, and at the beginning of the 20th century, wild boars disappeared from Austria, Germany, Italy and northern Africa. In 1930, the wild pig was almost completely exterminated in Russia. However, since 1950, the population began to revive. To date, the wild boar lives even in Foggy Albion.

They also live in the wild nature parks of England. The largest population lives in Sweden. Its population is more than 100 thousand individuals. Representatives of the genus are also found in North America, more precisely, in the eastern part of the United States, where they were brought specifically for hunting. There is a population in Australia, but not wild boars live there, but domestic ones that ran away from farms, became wild and now have adapted to life in the wild and continue to breed. By behavior and lifestyle, representatives of this population do not differ from wild boars, but still they are not.

Boar behavior and nutrition

Females live in groups, the number of which can reach up to 50 individuals. The mature female dominates there. Males prefer a solitary lifestyle and come to groups only during the mating season. They hunt and search for food in the morning and evening twilight. During the day and night, wild boars prefer to rest. These animals have excellent hearing and an excellent sense of smell, but their eyesight is poor.

Thanks to the fangs, wild boars can dig the ground and get rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs of plants from there. This is their main food. They also eat berries, fruits and nuts. In spring and summer, young grass, leaves of trees and shrubs, shoots are eaten. From animal food, eggs of birds, worms, insects, fish are used, they love frogs and snakes. They also eat carrion, as well as young lambs and deer. Wild boars are excellent swimmers and can easily swim across a lake or river. They run well, can reach a fairly high speed, and given their size and weight, they are very dangerous for enemies.

Reproduction and lifespan

In the wild wild boar lives 10-12 years, in captivity animals live up to 20 years. In the period from November to December, wild boars go through a rut. In males, a subcutaneous protective "shell" grows - muscles 2-3 cm thick. It is located on the sides and performs the function of protecting against the opponent's fangs, with which he can injure in the fight for the female. Also during this period, animals accumulate fat.

During the mating season, males are constantly involved in battles for females, and therefore they lose weight, weaken. They have many wounds on their bodies. The winner can get up to 8 females. The duration of pregnancy is approximately 115 days. Childbirth takes place in April. The first time the female usually gives birth to 2-3 piglets. In the future, she gives birth to 4-6 cubs. There are times when there can be 10-12 piglets in a litter. When there are 3 days left before giving birth, the female leaves the herd. She looks for a place for herself, digs a hole there, closes it with branches and gives birth there.

At birth, a piglet weighs from 750 grams to 1 kg. The first 4-6 days they sit in the nest, and then the female returns to the herd with her offspring. Offspring go everywhere with their mother. The female feeds the cubs with milk for 3.5 months. Growth in these animals continues up to 5-6 years. Females become sexually mature at 1.5 years, and males at 5-6 years.

Boar Enemies

Enemies for wild boars are all predators. But they usually attack young individuals, since adult boars are strong, large, have strong legs, and males also have sharp fangs. Therefore, the boar is able to fight back, and even, in some cases, the attacker dies, but more often gets seriously injured.

The main enemy of a wild pig is a man.

Man remains the main enemy. People hunted and continue to hunt for. In most cases, the animal is killed in order to make a stuffed animal out of its head and thus demonstrate its skill as a hunter. The meat of these animals is eaten by people, it is very tasty and nutritious. Boar bristles were used to make massage hairbrushes, toothbrushes, and brushes for applying shaving foam.

Nowadays, bristles are not used to make toothbrushes - it is unhygienic, and shaving brushes and hair brushes are still sometimes made from it. Paint brushes are also made from bristles. Boar skin can be eaten. To date, hunting for this animal has acquired a sporting character, this is done for entertainment, and not for food. Often they hunt with dogs or drive the victim on horseback.

If a hunter meets a boar, especially a wounded one, then the person is in mortal danger. The animal rushes at the enemy with lightning speed, and if you do not run away in time, you can die. The boar does not attack again. Under normal conditions, the boar is not aggressive. The exception is females with offspring, if the mother decides that the children are in danger, then she will protect them to the last.

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The wild boar, also known as the wild boar and wild pig, is a mammal from the order Artiodactyls, the suborder Sigidae, the pig family, the boar genus. It is the ancestor of domestic pigs.

The size

The body length of adult wild boars reaches 175 cm, height is about 1 m. Weight is up to 100 kg, occasionally from 150 to 200 kg.

Body

This animal differs from domestic pigs in its short and dense physique, thick and high limbs, long and thin head, longer, sharp and erect ears. The upper and lower fangs are constantly growing and protrude upward from the mouth.

Bristle

The body of a wild boar is covered with elastic bristles, except for the lower neck and the back of the abdomen, on the back there is a kind of mane with a comb from it. In winter, under this bristle, a thick and soft undercoat begins to grow.

Color

The color of the bristles is black-brown with a yellowish tint, the undercoat is brownish-gray, therefore the general color is regarded as gray-black-brown, the muzzle, tail, legs and hooves are black. Occasionally there are variegated or piebald individuals.

Body Features

The neck is massive, thick, short, the head is large, wedge-shaped, the ears are long, wide, the eyes are small. A powerful snout with a snout protrudes forward and allows the animal to dig the ground, even frozen, to a depth of 15-17 cm. The tail is straight, 20-25 cm long, decorated with a tassel at the tip. It makes sounds similar to a domestic pig (grunts and squeals). When running, it develops speed up to 40 km / h. Swims well.

Nutrition Features

What does it eat

A wild boar is an omnivore and, according to this indicator, is practically like a person. Its diet includes mainly plant foods, which vary by season (tubers, roots, rhizomes, bulbs, fruits, acorns, seeds, nuts, berries, mushrooms, tree bark, rags, shoots), as well as various small animals (worms, mollusks, frogs, lizards, snakes, rodents, insectivores, bird eggs and insect larvae), and carrion. Specific food preferences depend on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bresidence and the time of year.

How much does he eat

An adult wild boar consumes 3-6 kg of food per day, extracting most of its food from forest litter and soil.

Benefit

Loosening the land by wild boars contributes to the incorporation of seeds, and the subsequent renewal of trees. Also, these animals destroy forest pests, which are useful.

Harm

In times of famine, wild boars, on the contrary, visit potato and other fields, and harm agriculture, tearing and trampling crops. Sometimes they attack birds and hares, occasionally fallow deer, roe deer or deer if they are weak or sick.

Boars are not affected by a number of poisonous plants and snake venom.

Where does he hang out

The distribution range of the wild boar is quite wide. The species lives in broad-leaved and mixed forests of Europe (from the Atlantic to the Urals), in the Mediterranean region, in northern Africa, in the steppes of Central Asia, in the northeast of Western Asia and in southeast Asia. There are also island populations of wild boar in all the seas and oceans of our planet.

Common types

Since wild boars have a very variable habitat, 16 subspecies were identified and grouped into 4 regional groups: western, Indian, eastern and Indonesian wild boars.

Male and female: main differences

Female wild boars are always slightly smaller than males, and their fangs are also not as large and prominent as those of the opposite sex.

Behavior

Wild boars prefer water-rich, swampy areas, both wooded and overgrown with reeds and shrubs. These are social animals that form herds with a matriarchal way of life. Old males usually live alone, they join the herd only in the mating season.

Behavior in a group

Females form groups of 10-30 individuals: cubs, young and weak males. The largest herds include up to 100 individuals. These groups move over long distances, but only in their area from 1 to 4 km² and do not migrate.

Movement and orientation on the ground

The wild boar moves clumsily, but quickly, swims well and is able to swim for a long time. Vision is poor: the boar does not distinguish colors, a person who stands 15 meters from him will not see. Oriented by sense of smell, taste and hearing. The boar is cautious, but not cowardly, if he is annoyed, injured or protecting his cubs, then he becomes truly dangerous and aggressive.

Activity time and rest

Since this animal is susceptible to sudden changes in temperature, it wallows a lot in the mud to protect itself from insects and burns, and maintain an optimal body temperature. Wild boars are active mainly at dusk, during the day they rest in dug holes up to 30-40 cm deep. In the evening they come out, swim and go in search of food.

reproduction

The wild boar is considered to be a limitedly polygamous animal: there are 1-3 females per male.

mating season

Females usually enter mating games in the second year of life, and males only in the 4-5th year. Estrus occurs from November to January, at which time the males arrange fierce fights with each other, using their powerful fangs.

Pregnancy

The duration of pregnancy is 18 weeks. In one litter, the female has an average of 4-6, sometimes up to 12 cubs.

Offspring

The weight of a newborn piglet is from 600 to 1650 g. It is striped, with white, black-brown and yellow stripes that mask the baby in the forest floor. After 4-5 months, the color changes to dark.

The female carefully guards the cubs, aggressively guarding them from enemies, and returns to them every 3-4 hours. In the first weeks of life, piglets sit in a kind of "nest". Gradually, they begin to go outside with the female, and at 3 weeks they begin to master the habits of adult boars.

Milk feeding lasts up to 3.5 months. In autumn, young growth reaches a weight of 20-30 kg.

Puberty

Sexual maturity in wild boars occurs at about 1.5 years, full maturity at 5-6 years.

natural enemies

In addition to people, the wild boar, mostly young, is threatened by the wolf and lynx, in Asia - by the leopard and tiger, which occasionally attack adult males. Baby piglets can also be attacked by large snakes and birds of prey. In general, the population is stable and is not under threat of extinction or destruction.

• The ancestors of the modern domestic pig are the wild boars of Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Europe and China, which people domesticated in the Neolithic era. According to archaeologists, already 13,000 - 12,700 years ago wild pigs were domesticated in the Middle East. At first they were kept in a semi-wild state in the wild, as is happening now, for example, in New Guinea. The remains of pigs were discovered by scientists in Cyprus, where they could only get from the mainland along with people. The first domestic pigs were brought to Europe from the East, after which an active process of domestication of European wild pigs began. It happened quite quickly due to the high adaptability and omnivorousness of wild pigs. These animals were bred for their delicious meat, and their skins (for making shields), bones (for making tools and weapons) and bristles (for brushes) were also used. In India and China, wild boars ate human waste and were even called "pig toilets".

The wild boar, also known as wild boar, or wild pig, boar, wild boar and others, belongs to the family of mammals. The term boar is also used to refer to male domestic pigs, which are the descendants of wild boars.

Description of wild boars

The body of a wild boar is covered with bristly sheared, cut, blackish or brown coarse hair.. In a standing position from the shoulder, the size of the animal reaches 90 centimeters, it is quite high. Wild boars are predominantly pack animals living in small groups. With the exception of old individuals, which keep apart. These animals are very fast, omnivores and good swimmers. Boars are predominantly nocturnal. They have sharp tusks, and although they are usually non-aggressive, they can be extremely dangerous. A wild boar attack can have serious consequences, and even death.

It is interesting! Catching a wild boar is an honorable and extremely dangerous business. In parts of Europe and India it is still hunted with dogs as before, but the outdated spear has mostly been replaced by a pistol or other firearm.

Since ancient times, due to its incredible strength, speed and ferocity, the wild boar has been one of the favorite animals for hunting. Both the general excitement of the chase and the trophy meat, skin and head of a wild boar are appreciated, which is great for making stuffed animals on the wall. A rare hunting lodge will do without his gloomy face on the wall. Boar meat has long been considered an exquisite trophy delicacy. In Europe, the boar is one of the four heraldic chasing animals featured on the badge of Richard III, King of England.

Appearance

Wild boars belong to the family of artiodactyl pigs, but not ruminants. Despite being closely related, the boar differs in many ways from the common domestic pig. The reason for this is the living conditions, as a result of which nature has awarded wild boars with some superiority for self-defense and endurance for survival.

The boar has a shorter and denser body. The thickened and elongated structure of the legs allows the animal to easily move for long distances over rough terrain. The head of the boar is also slightly modified. It has a more elongated shape in the snout area. The ears stand erect almost at the very top of the head. Also, the head of this wild beast is equipped with the main advantage for survival in the wild - constantly growing two sharp fangs.

The wool of the boar is thicker. It has the consistency of coarse bristles, forming from time to time a kind of mane on the top of the body, which appears if the animal is frightened or preparing to attack. The color of the wool itself can be modified depending on the area in which a particular wild boar lives. Wool is given to animals not only for warmth, but also for camouflage, and so it is in this case. The color palette of wild boars ranges from black crow to brown-brown.

In the direction from front to back, the body of the boar is narrowing. Behind is a small thin ponytail topped with a tousled woolen tassel. The front, large half of the body is extremely well developed, which makes it possible for the wild boar not only to move long distances, but also to surpass the enemy in pursuit if necessary.

The total body length can reach 180 centimeters. The mass of an adult animal reaches from one hundred to two hundred kilograms, depending on the habitat, food and species. The size at the withers at the same time in especially large individuals reaches 1000 centimeters in height.

Character and lifestyle

The boar is easy to make a pet. What, in fact, happened to the oldest descendants of our domestic, well-fed and extremely appetizing pigs. They show signs of sociality, which is why they easily gather in herds, keeping in groups.

It is interesting! Basically, a wild boar herd consists of a group of females with their young. According to statistics, there is only one male for three females. Older boars tend to keep to themselves, developing gristle-like armor on their sides as they age, giving them an edge in combat.

The protection of territories and offspring is carried out exclusively by the male. But at the same time, do not underestimate the female - the mother, next to whom her babies are. The female, next to which the cubs are located, is the most dangerous of the wild boars, as she is extremely aggressive towards any uninvited guests. Even if her fangs are slightly less pronounced, she can easily trample her opponent, leaning on him with the front part of the body with hooves, while causing serious injuries.

How long do boars live

Average statistics indicate that the life expectancy of boars ranges from twelve to fourteen years. Surprising is the fact that these animals, unlike many others, live longer in the wild. Their near-death record age reaches about twenty years. The puberty of a wild boar occurs already at the age of one and a half years. Mating usually occurs in November-December-January.

sexual dimorphism

The female boar is inferior to the male in size. They also have a noticeably smaller head and weaker fangs.

Boar species

Depending on the territorial distribution of wild boars or boars, they are divided into species. These are western, eastern, Indian and Indonesian representatives of the fauna. Boars are also divided into nine types.

African river buxom pig, bearded mangrove pig of Indonesia, babirussa, African savannah warthog, wild boar from Asian and European forests, Madagascar small buxom pig, large African pig, as well as pygmy and Javanese pig. All these species have minor external differences due to the habitat of each of them.

Range, habitats

The habitat and distribution of wild boars is the most extensive. You can meet these muscular predators both in deciduous and coniferous-deciduous forests, as well as in steppe zones and taiga regions.

In some places it was completely exterminated. The largest representative of the species is the European wild boar, which lives in forests from western and northern Europe and North Africa to India, the Andaman Islands and China. It was developed in New Zealand and the United States by crossing large domestic pigs with native wild species.

Boar diet

Despite its potential aggressiveness, the boar's menu is predominantly vegetable. He is not averse to eating roots, acorns, root crops, berries and mushrooms, as well as all kinds of nutritious tubers. In times of food shortage, for example, during the onset of cold weather, the wild boar switches to more satisfying food. For example, carrion, bird eggs, larvae found in the ground and under the bark of trees, as well as the bark itself.

It is interesting! An adult boar absorbs from three to six kilograms of food per day. Boars need large amounts of water every day. Coming for her to the mouths of rivers and lakes, wild boars can feast on freshly caught fish at the same time.

Wild boars bring benefits to the forest. Eating plant litter in the occupied territory, they, together with foliage, grass and roots, eat all kinds of pest bugs, larvae and insects, thereby carrying out sanitary work. In addition, they constantly dig the ground with their fangs and powerful nickels in search of food, which favorably affects its quality.

Reproduction and offspring

In one litter, the female gives birth to six to twelve boars. Their striped coloration is excellent for camouflaging themselves among the foliage and branches of their terrain. As a rule, there are no more than one broods per year. However, there are also cases of 2-3 births in females. It depends on the climatic conditions of the area where the boars live. Breastfeeding of newborn piglets lasts up to three or three and a half months. As a rule, already in the third week of life, piglets are quite active and can move independently. Despite this, the mother is constantly aggressive towards any uninvited guests. The warlike female carefully guards her offspring.

Do not underestimate its capabilities. Even a female wild boar is capable of defending herself to the last or chasing. An already wounded animal will not stop fighting with the offender until the last breath. And in the presence of a pile of muscles and sharp fangs, this is extremely dangerous for the enemy of the boar. Although for most avid hunters - thrill-seekers, this is not a problem at all.

Boars can also be bred in captivity. For this, it is important to choose the right boar. When selecting it for a breeding program, consideration should be given to factors such as origin from a certain species of non-deficient herd, performance, stability and conformation, age at sexual maturity and other relevant parameters associated with the potential intended breeding.

It is interesting! The genetic background of the boar must be consistent with the intended intended use. The selection of sires with hereditary defects such as umbilical or inguinal hernias, cryptorchidism, rectal prolapse can be avoided by careful analysis of the flock's raw production data.

All boars to be used in a breeding program must, at a minimum, be seronegative for brucellosis. In addition, all male boars must be isolated and acclimatized for at least 45-60 days prior to mating and tested (or re-tested) for diseases dangerous to other relatives before being introduced into the herd. If boars are selected from large litters (of more than 10 piglets) that reach puberty early (5½–6 months), they tend to produce high-producing piglets that also reach puberty at an early age. Performance parameters such as feed efficiency and average daily gain are also highly heritable.

Skeletal conformation and consideration for present or potential locomotor dysfunction must be determined. Any painful deviation that may prevent the boar from approaching the female, gaining a foothold, successfully breeding and ejaculating, should be determined in advance. For example, acute or chronic musculoskeletal conditions can cause pain that makes the boar seem uninteresting in the setup. Boars are usually selected as a breeding prospect for a period of 3-6 months.