Wild Boar

The **Wild Boar** (*Sus scrofa*) is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. It lives in woodlands in central Europe, the southern united states, the Mediterranean regions, across southern Asia and as far as Indonesia. Animals similar to the wild boar include the warthog of Africa and the peccary or javelina of the American Southwest; but these animals do not share the pig's taxonomic genus.

The wild boar for a long time was extinct in Great Britain, although some are farmed for their meat. In recent decades escaped wild boars have bred into a new wild population in some areas, particularly the Weald. Wild boars can reach up to 440 lb (200 kg) and can be up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long, though a giant specimen weighing around 705 lb (320 kg) has been killed with a spear by hunter Fred Arnold. Arnold testifies on his website having spotted wild boars he estimated weighing up to 1000 lb. If surprised or cornered they may become aggressive and can cause injury with their tusks. However, this is quite rare and usually only occurs if a sow feels the need to defend her piglets.

## Wild or feral

The difference between the wild and domestic animals is largely a matter of perception; both are usually described as *Sus scrofa*, and domestic pigs quite readily become feral. The characterisation of populations as wild, feral or domestic and pig or boar is usually decided by where the animals are encountered and what is known of their history.

The term ***boar*** is used to denote an adult male of certain species, including, confusingly, domestic pigs. In the case of wild pigs only, it is correct to say "female boar" or "infant wild boar", since ***boar*** or ***wild boar*** refers to the species itself.

One characteristic by which domestic breed and wild animals are differentiated is coats. Wild animals almost always have thick, short bristly coats ranging in colour from brown through grey to black. A prominent ridge of hair matching the spine is also common, giving rise to the name *razorback* in the southern United States. The tail is usually short and straight. Wild animals tend also to have longer legs than domestic breeds and a longer and narrower head and snout. European adult males can be up to 200kg and have both upper and lower tusks; females do not have tusks and are around a third smaller on average. (Compare "Hogzilla", a very large boar shot in Georgia, USA in 2004.)

## Habits

Wild boars live in groups called *sounders*. Sounders typically contain around twenty animals, but groups of over fifty have been seen. In a typical sounder there are two or three sows and their offspring; adult males are not part of the sounder outside of the autumnal breeding season and are usually found alone. Birth, called farrowing, usually occurs in the spring; a litter will typically contain five piglets, but up to thirteen has been known.

The animals are usually nocturnal, foraging from dusk until dawn but with resting periods during both night and day. This is because hunters are most active during the day.

## Subspecies

*Sus scrofa scrofa* - inhabits North-West Africa, Europe, and West Asia

*Sus scrofa ussuricus* - inhabits North Asia and Japan

*Sus scrofa cristatus* - inhabits Asia Minor peninsular, India and the Far- East

*Sus scrofa vittatus* - inhabits Indonesia

## Hunting

Wild boars are hunted both for their meat, considered a delicacy, and to mitigate the damage they cause to crops and forests. Historically, boar hunting was traditionally done by groups of spearmen using a specialised boar spear. The boar spear was fitted with a cross guard to stop the enraged animal driving its pierced body further down the shaft in order to attack its killer before dying. Specialised boar swords were also used in boar hunting, and also large hunting dogs, which would usually be equipped with heavy leather armour. See also medieval hunting. Armoured dogs are also used by modern boar hunters to track and subdue their quarry, which is then despatched using a knife, rifleor compound bow. Wild boar are also often hunted without the aid of dogs, using similar equipment.

## Mythology and symbolism

One of the Twelve Labours of Hercules was hunting a wild boar, the "Erymanthian Boar". Boar hunting figures in several stories of Celtic and Irish mythology. The wild boar was a symbol of Richard III of England. The boar and boar's head are common charges in heraldry. A complete beast may represent what are seen as the positive qualities of the boar, namely courage and fierceness in battle; a boar's head may represent hospitality (from the common provision of roast boar at banquets), or it may symbolise that the bearer of the arms is a noted hunter. However boar charges also lend themselves very well to canting (heraldic punning).

## Commercial use

The hair of the boar was often used for the production of the toothbrush until the invention of synthetic materials in the 1930's. The hair for the bristles usually came from the neck area of the boar. Popular because the bristles were soft, it wasn't the best material for oral hygiene as the hairs were slow to dry and usually retained bacteria.

## Boar meaning an adult male of certain animals

Adult males of the following species are known as **boars**: badger, bear, guinea pig, hedgehog, panda, pig, prarie dog and raccoon. The corresponding females are called **sows**. Names for the young are more variable.