Red River Hog

Also called the bush or red river pig, this species lives in groups of up to forty individuals, each led by an older male.

Sometimes when two different groups meet, they exhibit ritualized threats. The display, however, rarely intensifies into serious fighting.

These hogs will eat almost anything and can cause extensive damage to agricultural crops. They use their long snout as a plow, tearing up vegetation as they search the subsoil for roots and tubers.

Their natural predators tend to be species such as leopards that require an extremely large range to survive and are becoming rare.

Therefore, despite being hunted by humans, the population of the red river hog today exceeds normal levels.

Animal Facts

Name: Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus)

Family: Suidae (Pigs and Hogs)

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar

Habitat: Dense tropical forest

Diet: Mainly roots, bulbs, tubers and fallen fruit

Head and Body Length: 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m)

Tail Length: 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm)

Shoulder Height: 25 to 30 inches (64 to 75 cm)

Weight: 120 to 181 pounds (54.5 to 82 kg)

Life Cycle: Mating throughout year; gestation 120 to 130 days, usually three or four young born

Description: Shaggy, red fur; white eye ring; long, leaf-shaped ears with tassles; sharp tusks; narrow, white mane; stocky build

Conservation Status: Common