WARTHOG

HOME

NATIONAL PARKS AND GAMES RESERVES.

HISTORIC SITES

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

ANIMALS

ACCOMODATION

ATTRACTIONS AT THE COAST

MOMBASA

RIFT VALLEY

The Wart hog is an African pig with large, curved tusks protruding from its huge, flattened head. These tusks may be as much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) long. Between the tusks and the eyes are three pairs of large "warts" from which the hog gets its name. The coarsely grained, pale gray hide of the wart hog is thinly sprinkled with stiff, brownish-gray hairs. A thin mane of long, bristly hair hangs over its back and head. A typical large boar may weigh over 200 pounds (91 kilograms) and measure about 30 inches (76 centimeters) high at the shoulder.

The wart hog lives in dry, sandy country from southern Africa northward to the region just south of the Sahara desert. It prefers open forest with plenty of thickets for protection. The wart hog travels in small family groups. Old boars, however, usually live by themselves. The sow may produce as many as six to eight young at a time. Ordinarily, only half that number are born at one time. Wart hogs often enlarge and use burrows made by other animals. They eat roots, plants, birds' eggs, and even small mammals.

Scientific Classification. The wart hog belongs to the pig family, Suidae. Its scientific name is Phacochoerus aethiopicus.