Wild boars are a species of wild animal found all over the world. They can be very aggressive and dangerous, especially when injured or feeling threatened.
7. Babirusa – Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)
Among the many wild boar populations around the world, the Babirusa can be considered the most comfortable species because their habitat is located on small islands like Sulawesi in Indonesia—where there are no threats from Sumatran tigers or Bengal tigers, as well as no danger from leopards.
In this comfortable environment, Babirusas gradually lose their fighting instincts, using most of their wildness to compete for mating rights. Zoologists believe that their inward-curving tusks are a sign of their masculine allure. Although these tusks can potentially pierce their skulls as they mature, the pain is completely worth it for the opportunity to mate.
6. Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
The Warthog is widely distributed in the tropical regions south of the Sahara Desert in Africa. Leopards and lions are the biggest threats to their survival. However, they are also sometimes attacked by cheetahs and hyenas, which has driven them to develop strong survival skills. For instance, they are among the few animals in the world that can thrive in environments with very little water and extreme temperatures. To survive in the dangerous African savanna, they eat almost anything, including carrion. Warthogs have large heads and mouths, with tusks on either side used for digging burrows to escape predators and compete for mates. However, their weight of under 100 kg still renders them vulnerable to larger predators.
5. Red River Hog
The Red River Hog is found in the forests of Guinea and Congo in West Africa, rarely straying far from tropical forests and swamps, often damaging local crops such as cassava and taro.
An adult Red River Hog can weigh up to 115 kg—they may be one of the smaller but highly aggressive pig species. Males fight rivals by head-butting, thrusting their snouts, and whipping their tails against each other, and they are ready to defend their families against leopards, spotted hyenas, and pythons. The bony protrusions on the faces of males help them avoid injury to their facial tendons during mating competitions, but when faced with leopards, they are unable to defend themselves.
4. Forest Hog – Masked Boar (Potamochoerus larvatus)
The Masked Boar is a wild pig species found in swampy forest areas in East and Southern Africa. They can weigh up to 120 kg. Although their tusks are not as prominently displayed as those of other wild boars, their large size gives them confidence, and they can become very aggressive.
The Masked Boar is the largest agricultural pest in South Africa and is often hunted by locals. However, compared to domestic pigs, their meat is too lean and has a very unpleasant taste, so they are typically hunted not for their meat.
3. Bornean Bearded Pig
The Bornean Bearded Pig is a type of wild pig that inhabits the rainforests of Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and the Sulu Archipelago. Despite their rather odd appearance, they can weigh up to 150 kg.
Under the threat of Sumatran tigers, leopards, and local indigenous people, the Bornean Bearded Pig has also developed unique survival skills. For example, they prefer to live in groups as family units, foraging at night and early morning, and they can follow monkeys to gather fallen fruits. Sometimes they will gather in herds with other families to form large groups of dozens or even hundreds of pigs.
2. Giant Forest Hog
The Giant Forest Hog, found in West and Central Africa, is one of the largest wild pig species in the world, with adult weights typically ranging from 100 to 275 kg. Unlike most other pig species, the Giant Forest Hog does not root in the ground to find and eat roots; instead, they eat wild fruits and low-growing crops, as well as carrion.
Due to their strong territorial awareness, male Giant Forest Hogs are very aggressive and can deliver powerful attacks. They will fight with members of other groups until they are driven off. They typically strike enemies with their foreheads and use tusks that can grow up to 30 cm long to stab opponents, causing broken bones or even death, while large warts on their faces can protect them from significant injury.
1. Eurasian Wild Boar
The Eurasian Wild Boar, also known simply as wild boar, is commonly found in China, with average weights ranging from 90 to 200 kg, although individuals over 200 kg have been spotted in some areas, including northeastern China and the Russian Far East, where individuals weighing over 400 kg have been discovered.
Eurasian Wild Boars are very aggressive, and when threatened, instead of fleeing, they will charge at and attack their enemies with tusks and their foreheads. Sows, even without tusks, will charge in to bite their enemies, which can cause serious injury or even death.
For humans, the greatest threat posed by this species is its high reproductive rate and lack of natural predators. As a result, wild boar populations continue to increase, and in some areas of Europe, they have abandoned mountainous forests and invaded towns, posing a danger to human life and property.
