The boar is omnivorous. Do you know what wild boars eat? The largest killed wild boars

Experienced hunters have probably encountered an animal like a boar in the forest, hunting it. They are found not only in forests, but also in desert areas. What is this animal, where does the wild 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.

The boar animal and its description

The boar is the ancestor of the domestic pig. The mammal belongs to the order Artiodactyla, suborder Porciniformes, a genus of wild boars of the pig family. The animal also has other names: cleaver; boar; wild pig.

Despite the fact that the boar descended from the domestic pig, it differs in appearance from the domestic animal. He has more dense and short body, legs are thicker and taller in size. His head is taller and thinner, his ears are also longer and pointed. Moreover, the ears are erect, not like those of a domestic pig.

The boar constantly lower canines grow. In males they are more developed than in females, larger and protruding from the mouth. On the back, due to the thick stubble, something like a mane is formed. It rises with a comb when the boar is in an aggressive state. During the cold season, undergrowth grows under the bristles.

The stubble on the body has black-brown color with a reddish tint. The underfur is brownish-gray in color and all together creates an overall color of gray-brown-black. The remaining parts of the body - legs, tail and muzzle - are black. The color of the animal depends on its habitat; it can be black or very light, almost whitish. Such specimens are found in the area of Lake Balkhash.

The dimensions of the animal are up to 1 meter in height at the withers and body length up to 175 cm. The average weight of a boar is usually about 100 kg, but larger animals weighing up to 150–200 kg are found. 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 lifespan is typically 14 years, but can live longer in captivity up to 20 years when the area becomes protected.

Habitat

These animals prefer to settle in wooded areas and swampy areas. Wild 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.

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

These animals can live in a variety of places on our planet, even in tropical forests and deserts. In Europe, wild boars love to live in oak and beech forests. There is a lot of marshy areas, fields and meadows. Boars prefer to settle in Central Asia in deciduous and spruce forests, as well as in nut and fruit groves.

Boars cannot stay in one place for a long time, so migrate in search of food. Boars look for habitats with large crops or a variety of food growing. In the European part, the largest population is in Sweden, more than 1,000 individuals.

Behavior and nutrition

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

Wild boars hunt in search of food in the morning or evening hours. At night and during the day, wild boars like to rest quietly. Animals have an acute sense of hearing and smell. Their vision is rather weak, so they rely more on other sense organs.

Boars love to eat plant foods, they are in constant search of new and fresh food. Thanks to well-developed tusks, boars dig the ground and dig up the following:

roots;
plant bulbs;
tubers.

Wild boars also like to eat other types of vegetation:

Berries.
Fruits.
Nuts.

In spring and summer, animals eat with pleasure:

Young grass.
Leaves of bushes and trees.
By shoots.

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

bird eggs;
snake;
frogs;
fish;
insects;
worms

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

Boars are excellent swimmers, they are excellent swimmers and are able to cover greater distances in water. The animal can easily swim across a river or lake O. Despite their heavy weight, wild boars run fast, therefore they are considered dangerous enemies for many animals.

Reproduction of boars and females

The average lifespan of a wild boar is 10–12 years. From September to December, wild boars go into rut. Males develop a protective subcutaneous shell - the thickness of the muscle is 2–3 cm.

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

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

The female carries the cubs for about 115 days, they appear in April 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 have been cases when a female managed to give birth to 10–12 piglets. The offspring always remains with the mother; she feeds them 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. Mostly hunting is carried out for the animal's skin, although its meat is considered very tasty and nutritious.

The wild boar is a fairly large animal that can reach up to one and a half meters in length. The weight of an adult varies from 150 to 300 kilograms. The boar's bristly fur resembles the coloration of a bear with a slight reddish tint. Their distinctive feature can be called large lower fangs, the size of which can be about 25 centimeters. This dexterous and agile animal is capable of accelerating up to 40 km per hour, which makes it elusive for both wild animals and hunters. On top of that, the wild boar swims well and jumps at a distance of 3.5 meters.

The role of fangs

The main function performed by the fangs of a wild boar is defense and attack. The main threat to this animal may be a pack of wolves, hunters or a bear. When attacked, a boar is capable of inflicting lacerations thanks to its tusks. Everyone knows that the boar is an animal that people hunt with pleasure. You should know that this beast is not so stupid. There have been many cases when wild boars lured a person to the reeds using various tricks, after which they suddenly attacked. It is very difficult to escape from the fangs of an angry boar; they are deadly. When an animal is wounded, it becomes enraged and may attack in response. In such a wounded and enraged state, even the wolves do not touch him.

Wild boar habitats

The boar (wild boar) is a fairly common species that lives throughout Europe, Asia, America and other tropical places. This animal has taken root both in coniferous forests and deserts. The most favorite place for such wild boars is oak forests. Very often such a large wild boar is found in the Caucasus and Transbaikalia near mountain rivers. The boar is a herd animal. Females are smaller in size than males and have a smaller habitat with piglets than a male. Its territory depends on the saturation of food in a particular place. These stray animals are capable of traveling several kilometers in one day in search of food.

Animal nutrition

The boar is an animal that eats quite varied. The boar's most favorite delicacies are:

Bulbous plants.
Various roots.
Nuts, acorns, berries.
Herbaceous plants.
Frogs, lizards, snakes.
Various insects.
Bird eggs.

Wild boar offspring

An animal such as the boar (wild boar) is divided into 25 subspecies, which are characterized by a stocky body with a large head, wide ears and small eyes. All adults protect their herds. Each female is capable of producing approximately five piglets annually, each of which can weigh about half a kilogram after birth. Nature itself took care of the safety of the babies and painted them with stripes, which makes small wild boars less noticeable, unlike adult boars with a dark color. Since wild pigs most often unite in huge herds in the fall to protect their young, even wolves do not always decide to attack pig offspring.

Boar character

Most boars prefer to spend their day in gray, marshy areas, wallowing in holes. In case of danger, this huge boar is able to escape through thickets impenetrable to other animals, swim across a water obstacle, and, if necessary, attack. After all, everyone knows that the best defense is an attack. The big boar tries to avoid meeting people, but there are often cases when hunters and dogs run into trouble themselves and they can find it. A pig's hearing is quite well developed, so for everyone's safety, feeding is done at night. The behavior of females should also be noted, because for the sake of their offspring they are ready to go into fire, into water, and even into an armed man, whom they will pursue to the last.

Precautionary measures

In order not to run into such a deadly animal as a boar once again, it is recommended to act as follows:

Be as careful as possible and do not come close to a flock of wild boars. It's best to leave before the person is spotted.
If you happen to stumble upon a piglet, you should keep in mind that the mother is definitely somewhere nearby.
If tracks of a boar are found, it is better to go in the other direction, away from this pig trail.
When a boar takes a person by surprise, there is no need to attack him. The best way out of this situation is to climb a tall tree and hide for a while.

Hatching of offspring

Pregnancy of females can last about 120 days, after which they are temporarily separated from their herd to build a nest in some quiet place. The new “home” for the brood looks more like a hut made of branches. During this crucial period, the mother becomes as aggressive as possible, which allows her to reliably protect and protect her cubs. Unlike males, the female does not have huge, terrifying fangs, but this does not mean at all that she is not dangerous. When defending or attacking, she is capable of overpowering and trampling her victim to death. After the offspring grow up, all family members return to the herd.

Life in the wild

Nature provides for everything, but this does not mean at all that life in this world will be without difficulties and obstacles, even for wild boars. Without a doubt, the boar's tusks are a powerful weapon and assistant throughout the entire period of their existence. But it is impossible to predict weather conditions that significantly complicate their lives. Snow makes it difficult for them to move, as a result of which the animals are able to overcome only one and a half kilometers, which threatens them with hunger and no fangs or speed of the animal will help with this.

The skin of a boar is quite thick, especially in the thigh area. Many hunters know this firsthand. An animal wounded in the thigh is worse than a healthy one, since such an angry animal is capable of fighting the offender to the last.

Everyone knows that the boar is an animal that emits a terrible roar that can put anyone into a stupor. When meeting an animal, you need to remember that it has an excellent sense of smell and hearing, but its vision is slightly impaired - this can be used in certain situations to save itself. In the wild, when this huge boar comes face to face with an opponent, he will never back down, no matter how many enemies surround him.

wild boar

The boar is an animal with a rather unusual appearance. Its body can be divided into two parts: back and front. From the front, the boar is huge and massive, with a smooth flowing body that tapers strongly at the back. That's why he looks slightly hunched over. The comb, which stretches along the entire back, gives aggressiveness. Upon reaching three years of age, the boar develops two pairs of powerful tusks. Females are very different in this matter from their partners. These weapons can become sharper and more dangerous over the years, since wild boars constantly sharpen them on stones and frozen ground. The wild boar is an animal that resembles a kind of tank, capable of making its way through even the most impenetrable thickets with lightning speed. This allows you to save your life if necessary. And the animal’s favorite pastime is mud baths.

The body of a boar is so dense and knitted that it more closely resembles a bristly shell, which not every hunter can pierce, but can easily irritate the animal. This animal is unusually strong and is capable of turning over huge stones and picking out ground frozen to 10 centimeters. Of course, meeting one-on-one with such a powerful killer as a boar is a sad story, but one should not give in to panic, even if the beast squeals and tries to intimidate a person. You must always soberly assess the situation. If you do not approach the animal and its cubs, do not provoke it, and do not get noticed, then problems can be avoided. As a last resort, it is recommended to climb the nearest tree - this is the only correct option.

The wild boar is a cloven-hoofed animal belonging to the suborder Porciniformes (family “pigs”). Other names for wild boars: “boar”, “wild pig”. Wild boars are believed to be the ancestors of modern domestic pigs. Despite such close “kinship,” boars are strikingly different from domestic pigs. Read this article and you will learn many interesting facts about these animals.

The wild boar is a relative of the domestic pig, but is very different from the usual domestic animals.

Boars have a dense and muscular build. Their limbs are longer than those of ordinary pigs. The boar's head is elongated and wedge-shaped. The ears are erect and large. Males (cleavers) have well-developed fangs above and below, which gives them a fierce and warlike appearance. The body of a wild boar is covered with thick fur, which looks like a kind of mane on its back. In winter, the coat is dense and becomes sparser as the weather warms up. The color of the fur can be grayish, brown, or even black. Boars exhibit acromelanism (black coloration of the muzzle, tail and limbs). In Central Asia, there are animals with a lighter, reddish tint of fur.

Piglets up to six months of age are colored differently than adult boars. Their fur is an alternation of stripes of light, brown and yellow. A baby wild boar blends into the terrain and is almost invisible to predators.

Habitat

the entire territory of Europe;
Asia Minor, Middle East;
northern part of Africa;
India;
east and southeast Asia.

The wild boar lives in any terrain, with the exception of mountains and pigs.

Wild boar is not found in steppe regions and mountainous areas. The wild boar is also found in the southern part of Siberia: in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the south of the Irkutsk region. But Transbaikalia with its hills and hills is not to the taste of these animals.

Wild boars also live in North America. They were brought to the United States from Europe for hunting purposes. The population of Australian wild pigs is interesting. These are feral domestic pigs that lead the same lifestyle as their wild European counterparts. Of course, this is not a separate species of wild boar.

Unfortunately, in many regions the forest boar has been exterminated completely or almost completely. In England, wild boars were exterminated in the 13th century, in Denmark – in the 19th century. In Russia, the number of wild boars declined catastrophically by the thirties of the last century. In the 50s of the twentieth century, systematic care for wild boars and restoration of the animal population began. Now you can find them even in such a densely populated area as, for example, Losiny Island near Moscow.

Types of wild boars

It is believed that the pig is the second animal domesticated by man (the first was the dog). As for the species diversity of these animals living in the wild, 9 varieties are known.

Boar . Lives in European and Asian forests. Introduced by humans to the American continent. About 25 subspecies of this animal are known.
Warthog. The warthog's habitat is African savannas. It received this name due to the growths of skin on its face. The animal is quite large. Its height reaches 0.85 m, weight – up to 150 kg.
River brush-eared pig. Lives in Central Africa. This pig sports a colorful outfit. Her fur is red and there is a white stripe on her back. Its diet is quite varied. Along with plant foods, cyst-eared pigs do not disdain carrion and feed on small mammals, birds, and insects.
Lesser brush-eared pig lives in Madagascar and the east of the African continent. The weight of the animal is about 70 kg.
Big forest pig lives in equatorial African forests. The weight of the animal is 200 kg or more. This species was discovered relatively recently, at the beginning of the 20th century. The diet of these pigs is exclusively vegetarian.
bearded pig lives in southeast Asia, in the mangrove forests of the Indonesian islands. It differs from its well-fed “relatives” in having a more “athletic” physique. The weight of the animal does not exceed 50 kg. Like most pigs, bearded pigs are omnivores.
Babirussa also inhabits the islands of Indonesia. The height of the animal at the withers is 0.8 m, weight – 80 kg. It is characterized by low fertility (no more than 2 piglets). It is a rare species (about 4 thousand pigs of this species remain in nature).
Javan pig.
Pygmy pig- the smallest representative of this family. Its length is no more than 0.65 m, and its height is no more than 0.30 m.

There are more than a dozen species of wild boar, all of which differ greatly in appearance.

Dimensions and weight

They depend on the habitats of these animals. The smallest representatives of the boar tribe live in southern India and southeast Asia. A few words about how much a boar weighs. The maximum weight of adult boars does not exceed 45 kg. But wild boars living in Europe are much larger and more massive. Carpathian individuals, for example, have a mass of 200 kg. The largest pigs are found in Eastern Europe: from the Carpathians to the Urals. The maximum weight of a boar is about 300 kilograms. And the “record” registered weight of a boar is 320 kg. Impressive animals can be found in Italy and France (average weight 150 and 230 kg, respectively).

The average body weight of a wild boar varies from 80 to 120 kilograms, with a body length of 900 - 2000 cm. The height at the withers is on average 550-1100 cm.

The average weight of a wild boar is about 100 kg.

Life expectancy, reproduction characteristics

In natural conditions, wild boars live on average from 10 to 12 years. The lifespan of animals in captivity increases to 20 years. The mating season for these animals is November-December. By the beginning of the rut, male wild boars become overgrown with fat and additional muscle mass on their sides, 20-30 mm thick. This “armor” protects boars from the fangs of competitors who also compete for the attention of brides.

During estrus, a female boar-pig carefully marks her own territory with the help of saliva and secretions that are secreted from the glands. The male finds the female using these marks.

During the mating season, hookers lose fat, their bodies are covered with wounds from numerous tournaments with other males. But the reward for the winner is a “harem”, which includes from 3 to 8 females. A wild pig bears its offspring for approximately 115 days. Farrowing occurs in April. The first litter of a female usually consists of 2 to 3 piglets, but there are also “record holders” with 10-12 babies in the litter. 2-3 days before farrowing, the pig separates from the herd and prepares the place for birth. She digs a small hole in the ground, covering it with branches.

A wild pig produces offspring ranging from 3 to 8 individuals.

The average weight of newborn piglets is 0.75 – 1.0 kg. For 5-6 days they stay next to their mother in an improvised nest. Then the family reunites with the herd. The piglet follows its mother everywhere. A wild pig feeds piglets with milk for up to 3.5 months. A wild boar grows up to 5-6 years of age. Females become sexually mature at one and a half years, males much later. They start caring for ladies at the age of 5-6 years.

Lifestyle, nutrition

The wild pig is a herd animal. A group of wild boars consists of 20 - 50 individuals. They have a matriarchy: the group is led by a female. The boar stays aloof, joining the female company only at the beginning of the mating season. Animals feed in the morning and evening. Day and night serve as a time of rest for them. Pigs are cautious and timid. Their eyesight is not the best, but their hearing and sense of smell are excellent.

The specificity of their diet is due to the fact that wild boars dig the ground with their nose.

They love to eat roots, bulbs and tubers of plants.
Wild boars feed on young shoots of bushes, eat leaves, collect fallen fruits, and do not refuse nuts.
From animal food, wild boars eat worms and frogs. This “gourmet” never misses an opportunity to feast on carrion and sometimes destroys bird nests located within his reach.
Sometimes a wild boar harms people by destroying fields and crops.

Wild boars love plant foods, but do not disdain worms and frogs.

Wild pigs are excellent swimmers and runners. Even a wide river or lake is not a serious obstacle for them. Considering its large body weight, an adult animal is quite dangerous.

Enemies

All large predators are considered enemies of wild boars. But, given the impressive size and weight of the wild boar, even tigers prefer not to get involved with adult males, not to mention wolves or bears. A large boar can defeat a bear or a wild cat without much difficulty. Fangs and hooves are quite formidable weapons of a wild boar. Therefore, young individuals usually become victims of predators.

Features of hunting

Man is one of the most dangerous enemies of the wild boar. A trophy in the form of a boar's head with tusks is the object of every hunter's dreams. Wild boar meat is tasty and healthy. Bristles are also used for the production of brushes, razor brushes and combs. Boar bristles are also suitable for making painting brushes.

Hunting wild boars is a very popular pastime.

They hunt forest pigs with dogs. Horseback hunting for wild boars is popular in forest-steppe regions. This occupation is quite dangerous. The animal itself is not aggressive, but if you frighten or anger it, it can easily stand up for itself. This is especially true for females with cubs.

Diseases

Here is a list of the most dangerous diseases of these animals.

Plague

The most dangerous disease of wild boars, which does not spare animals of all ages. The causative agent of this disease is a filterable virus. The disease is highly contagious. In a frozen boar corpse, the virus persists for up to six months, in a decomposing body - for several months. Since pigs live in herds, infection of one animal can lead to widespread disease and mortality. The virus also affects domestic pigs. The meat of a sick animal is edible after boiling for 1 - 1.5 hours. It is forbidden to bring shot carcasses into populated areas. Disinfection of meat is carried out in specialized enterprises.

Disposal of the corpses of dead animals is carried out by covering them with lime, followed by burying them to a depth of two meters. Prevention of mass infection of wild pigs is the shooting of sick individuals, as well as vaccination of animals.

Wild boars often suffer from plague, which greatly reduces their numbers.

Scabies

Affects animals during times of famine. By eating the corpses of animals affected by scabies, the boar itself becomes ill. By multiplying in the skin, the scabies mite causes hair loss and severe skin itching. Animals that stray from the herd are shot. The skin of the killed animal is disposed of. The meat is considered conditionally edible.

Trichinosis

When eating the carcasses of animals affected by trichinosis, the wild boar becomes infected with this disease. In this case, muscle tissue suffers. A disease such as helminthiasis also affects wild boars.

To restore the population of wild pigs after the mass mortality caused by wild boar diseases, it is advisable to ban hunting of these animals for 2-3 years. The disturbance factor of animals must be minimized to avoid their mass migration.

A wild boar is a powerful and fairly large animal, known to almost every person. Mammals appeared on our planet quite a long time ago and represent the ancestors of modern domestic animals.

Boars have a significant body weight and are considered quite dangerous to people. In this article we will look at these interesting animals and talk about the features of their lifestyle.

Description and features

Description of wild boar It’s worth starting by presenting its considerable volumes. The body length of animals varies from one and a half meters to 175 cm. The weight of the average animal is approximately 100 kg, although among wild boars it is not uncommon to weigh 150 or even 200 kilograms.

Thus, the size of such mammals is truly enormous. In addition, the height of animals can reach 1 meter, which, as a rule, is more than half the height of a person.

The appearance of these wild animals is nothing special. Their body is covered with rather coarse and hard fur of a dark color: gray, brown or black. The coat of the ancestors of pigs is not pleasant to the touch and is somewhat reminiscent of hard household brushes.

Comparing a boar accustomed to life in the wild and a domestic pig, you can notice a colossal difference between them. Wild boars spend their entire lives in the forest, so they are more adapted to such an environment.

Their fur reliably protects them from the cold, strong and long legs allow them to move quickly, taking long walks, their ears are rather large and point upward so that the animal can always sense danger.

The boar's nickel is not very sensitive, which allows the animal to loosen the soil and leaves without being injured

The snout patch is not particularly sensitive, so it is difficult to injure it while searching for food in the forest. What are the types? wild boars?

Types of wild boars

The boar genus does not include a very large number of species. To date, only about 20 different species of mammals have been bred. All these types are conventionally divided into Western, Eastern, Indian and Indonesian. Let's talk about some of them in more detail.

Central European

Representatives of this species are widespread in different European countries, as well as in the European part of Russia. Such wild boars can often be seen in zoos and nature reserves.

The Central European species is not distinguished by its enormous volumes. These animals are characterized by a small body length - approximately 130-140 cm. Their weight reaches average values - about 100 kg.

These boars are not considered particularly dangerous to humans. In relation to those who care for them, they behave calmly and respectfully, and are distinguished by flexible behavior. However, such mammals should still be isolated from the public, since their natural aggression can manifest themselves at any time.

Central Asian

Most species big wild boars got their name precisely because of the distribution area of the animals. Thus, representatives of the Central Asian subspecies live in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

The animals of Central Asia are larger in size than those of Central Europe. Their height is on average 150-160 cm, and their body weight can reach 120-130 kg.

The fur of Central Asian wild boars can be either light or dark in color. The most common is gray-brown hair. The fur of these animals is not very dense, which is explained by their constant residence in areas with a fairly hot climate. The animals have managed to adapt to this habitat, and they feel very comfortable in it.

Indian

Representatives of this species are included in a not very numerous group of Indian species. Animals are common in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and neighboring countries.

The peculiarity of Indian wild boars is that they are not afraid of people. They calmly, without fear, go out into the steppe regions and collect their favorite delicacies. Local residents are also not afraid of these animals and never behave aggressively.

The fur of representatives of the Indian species is light in color. This is due to the fairly warm climate and natural features of the area.

Despite the easy-going behavior of these wild boars, you should not threaten them or their cubs. These mammals, caring for their offspring, always retain their natural instincts and can cause significant harm to the guilty person.

Ussuri

The habitat of this species is a fairly vast area. Ussuri wild boars live on the territory, as well as on the lands of the Far Eastern region of Russia, near the Amur and Ussuri rivers. Sometimes this species is also called Far Eastern.

Representatives of this species are the largest of all existing ones. With a normal height of 170-18 cm, their body weight reaches 250-350 kg. Such impressive volumes make this boar potentially dangerous to anyone who crosses its path.

The hairline is dark in color, varying from gray-brown to black. Due to their size, these animals are extremely strong and resilient. They are able to travel long distances and pursue anyone who threatens their herd or their family.

Wild boar meat This species is highly valued by local residents, so about a quarter of the total number of representatives is exterminated annually by hunters and poachers.

The largest representatives of this species are found precisely on the territory of Russia, in the Primorsky Territory.

Japanese

The Japanese wild boar lives in the territory, with the exception of some islands. Representatives of the species have large body sizes and dark thick fur.

From the outside, these animals look very massive, even huge. This idea is due to the significant amount of fat that they “eat” on purpose. Their rough, but at the same time, sensitive spot on their elongated snout allows them to obtain all the necessary food products.

These mammals are calm and peaceful, so they are often kept in various zoos and nature reserves.

Habitat

The mammals we are considering, for the most part, are not on the verge of extinction. Only a few species, especially those suffering at the hands of local hunters, are considered rare. However, the entire genus of wild boar, as is known today, is not in danger of extinction.

For this reason, wild boars are distributed almost everywhere. As mentioned earlier, they are divided into four main groups depending on their habitats. The Western and Eastern groups are considered the most numerous.

Representatives of these species are distributed throughout most European and Asian countries. They easily adapt to their environment and learn to find food and a safe place to live.

The most “poor” areas in terms of wild boars are considered to be North and South America, as well as Antarctica. There are special local species on American soil, but biologists do not classify them as part of the main classification of the genus.

Lifestyle

Boars are considered very thrifty and prudent animals that take care of themselves and their offspring in advance.

Mammals, as a rule, live in small groups, or herds, uniting from 10 to 40 individuals. The herd is headed by a female, and there may be several times fewer males in the group.

The greatest activity of animals occurs precisely in the spring-summer period. In winter, they move a little, trying to retain warmth and energy.

Wild boars have very good eyesight and sense of smell. Thanks to their large erect ears, they hear perfectly. They can move through the forest silently, unnoticed by predators and humans. These mammals, despite their body mass, are excellent swimmers and can easily overcome long and difficult distances.

Nutrition

The ancestors of modern pigs, like the pigs themselves, are classified as omnivores. It is often possible to see photo of wild boars burrowing in the ground. This activity is indeed the main way of obtaining food for animals.

They “feel” the earth in search of food, make sure it is suitable for consumption, and only after that eat it. Often these mammals are even compared to humans due to the similarity of their diet to that of humans.

Boars mainly eat plant foods: seeds and fruits, various parts of plants, tree bark, and mushrooms. However, their diet includes small animals. These include insects, arthropods, amphibians, reptiles and even some mammals. Wild boars also often feed on the remains of dead animals.

It is considered interesting that wild boars are not afraid of poisoning from dangerous lizards and. When eating these animals, they do not pay attention to poisons. Indeed, substances that could be fatal to other living organisms pose absolutely no danger to wild pigs.

For these land-based mammals, it is vital to ensure that they do not have to suffer from starvation in the near future. Therefore, in warm weather, in Vienna and in the summer, a wild boar« attacks" for food.

During this period of time, he is able to gain up to 10 kg every month. Later, when cold weather sets in, a significant layer of fat will prevent the animal from freezing and will also provide the necessary “reserve” of nutrients.

These omnivores themselves often become victims of other mammals. They are often attacked by predators, from which it can be difficult for wild boars to escape.

Reproduction

As a rule, a female gives birth to five to seven cubs, which she carefully cares for. Pregnancy does not last long - no more than 5 months. The body weight of a newborn is only 1 kilogram. The cubs are born in mid-spring, sighted, with a striped coat color.

On the tenth day of life, piglets are able to cover considerable distances, following their parents. They also begin to eat vegetation and learn to get the most juicy and tasty food.

Already at the age of one year, small boars weigh more than 50 kg. Thus, in the first year of life they gain more than 20 kg per season. At the same age, they lose their special coloring, acquiring the dark hair of adult boars.

Having reached the age of one and a half years, the piglets leave the “parental home” and go in search of a new home. They form new herds, learn to live independently and take care of each other.

Lifespan

On average, wild boars live in the wild for 10 to 15 years. Considering the fact that already at the age of one and a half years, piglets begin an independent life, this life expectancy is considerable.

The life of individual representatives of the genus can end even before 10 years. In their natural habitat, animals are threatened by various predators, as well as people who are keen on hunting.

According to recent studies, for every 400 thousand individuals there are about 40 thousand animals killed by hunters and poachers. Hunting for these animals is worth talking about separately.

Wild boar hunting

Wild boar hunting It is considered an extremely profitable and exciting activity. Many people kill animals for their valuable and nutritious meat, thick and beautiful wool, or for no reason, to acquire a new hunting trophy. However, when hunting such mammals, you should pay attention to many nuances. What are the features of such an unsafe hobby?

First of all, it is worth saying that hunting such large animals is an extremely risky business. It poses a danger not only to animals, but also to the hunters themselves. The fact is that boars are very difficult to seriously injure.

If, for example, you get into the fat layer in the abdominal area, you can cause only minor damage to the animal. However, even such damage will greatly anger the boar, and it will be capable of causing serious harm to the attacker.

Even if it hits other parts of the body, you can avoid hitting vital organs and only “drive the beast out of yourself.” Therefore, inexperienced hunters are not recommended to choose wild boar as their prey.

Also, these animals can attack hunters and not alone. Members of their herd often come to the aid of their comrades, even sacrificing their own lives.

Often people go hunting with their dogs. However, in this way they only endanger their assistants. Dogs, inferior to wild boars in body size and weight, are sometimes much more vulnerable than humans themselves.

Keeping at home

There are many people who are interested in wild boar breeding. It is impossible to keep such animals in apartments, but for those who live in country houses, special premises can be organized for them, like barns.

Such premises must be filled with dry grass for a comfortable overnight stay for the animals, as well as constantly adding tasty and healthy food to the wild boars.

The pen must be closed, since the wild boars are not accustomed to the direct influence of weather conditions on them. In their natural habitat, they shelter from sun, rain and snow in the grass or under the canopy of trees.

Typically, people keeping wild boars feed them 5 to 7 kg of food daily. Domesticated mammals eat various cereals and vegetables. Sometimes owners even prepare special porridges and grain stews for the animals.

For such animals, it will not be superfluous to add a certain amount of cooked meat or fish, as well as country sour cream and cottage cheese to the diet.

The ancestors of pigs, although considered wild animals, treat their owners very well. They love and respect the people who care for them, and are able to protect them in case of danger, as in the wild they would protect their family and their offspring.

So, in this article we looked at an unusual and very interesting genus of mammals - wild boars. Absolutely every person has seen such animals in zoos, and also has an idea of the lifestyle of their direct descendants - domestic pigs.

Sometimes we don’t even think about how many animals die every year, not only to satisfy the natural needs of humanity, but also at the hands of ruthless hunters and poachers. Indeed, the statistics of countless murders are disappointing. Therefore, protecting wildlife is one of the most important tasks for each of us.

Wild boars are a type of wild pig. These animals belong to the order Artiodactyls, but, unlike other representatives of the order, they are in a special suborder of non-ruminants, which also includes hippopotamuses.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa).

The wild boar is a large animal; the weight of mature males can reach 250 kg. The appearance of these animals is quite typical: boars are stocky and do not exceed 1 m in height, the body is quite thick, the neck is short and wide, the head is large with an elongated movable snout. The boar's ears are quite wide, and the eyes, on the contrary, are small. The legs are relatively short, but this does not prevent wild boars from running fast and jumping high. The body of the animal is covered with coarse gray-brown hair; the thin and short tail ends in a tassel. Like many wild pigs, wild boars have a pair of tusks protruding from their mouths, which they use for food and protection.

Wild boars are distributed throughout Eurasia from Western Europe to the Far East. Wild boars are forest dwellers; their favorite habitats are broad-leaved forests, especially oak forests, in which wild boars feed on acorns. But these animals can be found in the forest-steppe and in reed thickets along river floodplains.

Wild boar on the river bank.

Crows look for ticks on the body of a wild boar that has just taken a mud bath.

Boars are omnivores. The basis of their diet is plant food - root vegetables, bulbs and succulent rhizomes of plants, mushrooms, as well as all kinds of dry and juicy fruits (acorns, nuts, chestnuts, wild fruits and berries); in winter, these animals additionally eat branches and grass. In addition, wild boars are not averse to diversifying their diet with animals - they hunt for worms, snails, insect larvae, destroy bird nests, and on occasion they can also eat small snakes, lizards, frogs, rodents, and carrion. When obtaining food, wild boars often dig the ground with their mobile, but very strong snout. Wild boars can dig up unfrozen soil to a depth of 30 cm. These animals are quite voracious and, with an abundance of food, quickly gain fat.

The breeding season for wild boars occurs in November-January. Lonely males join the herd and expel young males from it. When two equal opponents meet, they fight each other, sometimes inflicting serious wounds on the enemy. Each boar collects a harem of 1-3 females. Pregnancy lasts 4-4.5 months. The female gives birth to 4 to 12 piglets in the den.

Piglets are born striped and weigh about 900 g.

At first, the babies are in the den, and the mother often visits them and feeds them for a long time, lying on her side. The piglets grow quickly and after a week begin to leave the den with the female. At first, in case of danger, the piglets scatter in different directions and hide in the bushes; the grown-up young animals flee with their mother.

Female boar with piglets.

Wild boars are hunted by wolves, bears, tigers, and less commonly by lynxes and leopards. Especially many animals die in winter because it is difficult for wild boars to move through deep snow. Predators mainly attack young animals because an old boar and even an adult female are capable of inflicting serious wounds on the attacker. In general, the wild boar is a brave animal and, in case of real or perceived danger, attacks animals of equal size.

The role of the wild boar in the life of nature is twofold. On the one hand, these animals bring considerable benefits by digging up the forest floor and embedding the seeds of forest plants into it, as well as destroying many pest larvae. On the other hand, wild boars can cause no less harm: where their numbers are high, wild boars often completely destroy thickets of bulbous and rhizome plants, and destroy the nests of birds and bumblebees (including very rare species). Therefore, the number of these animals needs to be regulated. People have been hunting wild boar since ancient times, because the meat of this animal has unsurpassed taste. Often wild boars are specially bred for this purpose in hunting grounds. Once domesticated wild boars gave rise to numerous breeds of domestic pigs.

Boars dig through the snow in search of food.