Page 62 - World of Animals - Issue #39

Pigs of the world

Feral pig

This little piggy didn’t go to market.
He’s running rampant in the wild instead
Although not technically a separate that potentially threatens the survival of
species, feral pigs thrive in the wild. To the rare endemic species. Australia also
distinguish them from domestic breeds, considers feral pigs to be invasive pests,
they are given their own title. In America, as they cause damage to pastures and
feral pigs are often referred to as national parks down under.
razorbacks or wild hogs. However, wild hogs aren’t always
These descendants of escaped or unwelcome. Feral pigs on the island of Big
released domestic pigs can be a nuisance. Major Cay in the Bahamas have become
In the Philippines, they have bred with famous for their love of swimming in the
local wild populations like the Philippine sea. Thousands of tourists travel to the
warty pig, causing genetic contamination region to see the unusual aquatic pigs.

BELOW Warthog
The symbiotic
relationship
between a You’ll do well to avoid a fight with these feisty hogs
mongoose and a
warthog is called Warthogs aren’t always as friendly as Pumbaa, the jolly
mutualism bug-guzzling swine from The Lion King. These African pigs
are prolific fighters: males aggressively duel one another
with their razor sharp tusks during breeding season,
competing for females against dominant boars.
Nor are warthogs likely to be seen hanging out with
meerkats like Timon. However, a similar looking animal,
the banded mongoose, does enjoy a mutually beneficial
relationship with warthogs.
While the pigs relax in the sub-Saharan sun, these
resourceful critters act as personal groomers for their
Warthogs are found in Africa tusked friends, eating ticks and other insects and parasites
from their hair. Hakuna matata indeed.

“These African pigs are
prolific fighters: males

aggressively duel”

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