Boar

Created: 2023-01-18
Status: #soil
Last Edited: 2023-01-18
Topic: animals
Project: #lifefoundations/becomingagreatwriter Kingdom

What are Boar?

Boar is a type of wild pig that is native to Eurasia, North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Boars are usually found in woodland and scrub areas, where they feed on plant material, insects, small animals and sometimes carrion. They are typically solitary animals, though they may form small family groups during the mating season. Boars can be dangerous when cornered or surprised, but they are not normally aggressive towards humans unless provoked.

Lifespan is around 10-14 years in the wild, 20 years in captivity.

Omnivorous, eating around 50kg of food per day.

Boar have been known to prey on small deer fawns and other small mamals.

Boar can fish and also eat molluscs and birds.

Boar have been recorded as hunting and killing deer as a pack.

Newborn boars are known as squeakers.

Boar and pigs are a member of the suid family.

Boar are well adapted to churning the earth with their snouts.

Males are typically 10% larger and 20-30% heavier than females and have a mane running down their back. They have more pronounced canine teeth and these grow through the creature's life. The lower canines are longer and sharper.

In the breeding period, males develop a coating of subcutaneous tissue 2-3 cm thick to protect their vital organs during fights.

Larger adults do not tend to be hunted by wolves.

Boars carry a winter coat of coarse bristles underlaid with short, downy fur.

Colours of boar vary from white to black. Piglets tend to have light brown fur with pale bands extending over the back and flanks for the first three months of their lives.

Boar have acute hearing but lack colour vision. They are unable to recognise creatures further than 10-15m away.

Some pigs have immunity against snake poisons.

Social animals, led by matriarchs, despite the male boar's larger size.
Male boars leave their sounders after a year to live a solitary life at older ages.

Breeding

November to January
Males develop subcutaneous armour.
A single male mates with 5-10 sows.
gestation takes around 130 days.
Piglets are whelped in nest made from twigs.
Litters range from 4-10 piglets.
Should the mother die, the piglets are adopted by the sounder.
In danger, piglets take cover or stand immobile, relying on camouflage to keep safe.

Preditors

Mainly wolf.
Piglets are particularly vulnerable.
Leopard and tigers are the historical predators of boar.

Behaviours

Versatile habitat range
deserts to forest to mountainous snow regions.
Boar rest in shelters along with other boar.
They never deficate near their shelters.
Boar cover themselves in soil or pine needles when irritated by insects.
They are good swimmers and can swim for miles if needed.

Noises

grunts
whines
Adult males are usually silent.
purring.
warning cries
huffing
screeching
ukh! ukh!
gu-gu-gu
High pitched, piercing combat cries