Visayan warty pig

TheVisayan warty pig(Sus cebifrons) is acritically endangeredspecies in the pig genus (Sus). It isendemicto six of theVisayan Islands(Cebu,Negros,Panay,Masbate,Guimaras, andSiquijor) in the centralPhilippines. It is known by many names in the region (depending on the island and linguistic group) with most translating into 'wild pig':baboy ilahas('wild pig' in Hiligaynon,Cebuano and Waray),baboy talonon('forest pig' in Hiligaynon),baboy sulop('dark pig' in Cebuano), andbaboy ramo('wild boar' in Waray).
The Visayan warty pig is critically endangered due tohabitat lossand hunting. It is believed to be extinct in four of the islands in its original native range, with only small surviving populations inNegrosandPanay. Due to the small numbers of remaining Visayan warty pigs in the wild, little is known of their behaviors or characteristics outside of captivity. In 2012, the Negros Interior Biodiversity Expedition undertook camera trapping in theNorthern Negros Natural Parkand gained the first photos taken in the wild of the Visayan warty pig.
The Visayan warty pig is endemic to six islands in thePhilippines:Cebu,Negros,Panay,Masbate,Guimaras, andSiquijor. However, only Negros and Panay have documented remaining populations of Visayan warty pigs. It is believed to be extinct in all the other islands, although there is a possibility of some surviving populations in Masbate.
The species includes the followingsubspecies:
The Visayan warty pig receives its name from the three pairs of fleshy "warts" present on the visage of the boar.  Biologists speculate that the reason for the warts is to assist as a natural defense against the tusks of rival pigs during a fight.  The boars also grow stiff spiky hair.
Visayan warty pigs tend to live in groups of four to six.  The diet of the pig mainly consists of roots,tubers, and fruits that can be found in the forest.  They may also eat cultivated crops.  Since approximately 95% of their natural habitat has been cleared by local farmers who cut down the forest to plant crops, the propensity of the pigs to eat cultivated crops has risen dramatically.  Because the land that is cleared for farming is often unproductive after a few years, the food sources of the Visayan warty pig are extremely limited, a factor that has contributed significantly to the pig's dwindling numbers.
Visayan warty pigs were the first pig species ever to be recorded usingtoolsfor digging at a Frenchzoo.
Visayan warty pig piglets are often seen during the dry season between the months of January and March in their native habitat of the western Visayan Islands.The mean number of piglets is three to four per litter. There is at least one case of male-led infanticide documented in captivity.
The biggest threat to the Visayan warty pig is habitat loss caused bycommercial loggingandslash-and-burnfarming. In total, it is extinct in 98% of its original native range due to loss of forest cover. They are also hunted for food; and by farmers who see them as pests since they can damage crops when foraging.
Visayan warty pigs are also vulnerable to genetic contamination, as they readily hybridize with feraldomestic pigs.
The current conservation program forS. c. negrinusincludes successful breeding programs at theRotterdam Zoofor pigs of Negros origin, and at theSan Diego Zoofor pigs of Panay origin.
In addition to a few other conservation programs in thePhilippines, theCrocolandia Foundationand theNegros Forests and Ecological Foundationboth have this species in captivity.  InEurope, 31 zoos –Jersey Zoo,Rotterdam Zoo,Planckendael Zoo,Poznan Zoo,Colchester Zoo,Chester Zoo,Belfast Zoo,Edinburgh Zoo,Blackbrook Zoological Park,Děčín Zoo,Ostrava Zoo,Newquay Zoo, andParken ZooinEskilstuna, among others – maintain theNegros Islandvariety of this species.  Moreover, several zoos in theUnited Statesalso maintain the species.  TheSan Diego Zoowas the first zoo outside the Philippines to keep and breed Visayan warty pigs.  Elsewhere in North America, zoos inSeattle,Los Angeles,Portland,Phoenix,Tucson,Miami,Tampa,Saint Louis,Attleboro,Melbourne,Gainesville,Jacksonville,Boise,Cincinnati,andApple Valleyhave also kept the species. ThePittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquariumhave acquired the species and they went on-show to the public in June 2015.TheAustin Zooalso exhibits this species.