Visayan
Warty Pig
Visayan Warty Pig Facts
Puzzling Pigs
Not much is known about these forest-dwelling pigs of the Philippines,
which were only recognized as a separate species in 1993. Even compared
with other critically endangered species, the Visayan warty pig is
at greater risk than most.
Punk-Rock Pigs
During mating season, the boars grow thick manes that look like spiky
Mohawks, giving them a distinctive look. Boars have three pairs of
fleshy "warts," or
bumps on their faces. Biologists believe these warts help protect them
against the tusks of rival pigs during fights.
 Pillaging
Pigs
Visayan warty pigs are notorious for crop-raiding small farms in
their native land. They are commonly found in groups of four to five,
with
groups of up to a dozen individuals seen occasionally. Piglets are
usually seen during the dry season (between January and March in
the western
Visayan Islands). The average number of piglets is three to four
per litter.
Pigs With
Personality
Little is known about Visayan warty pigs in the wild, but zookeepers
describe them as playful and friendly.
Pig Out!
The Visayan warty pig's diet includes cultivated vegetables, tubers,
roots and fallen fruits.
Pigs in
Peril
Visayan warty pigs are native to only six islands in the Philippines
and have become extinct on four of them. Major threats to their
existence include loss of habitat, hunting and interbreeding
with domesticated
pigs. Much of the habitat loss is due to a slash-and-burn farming
system known as kaingin, practiced by landless peasants and
indigenous tribal
groups moving into the Visayan Islands. In addition, damage
caused by the pigs' crop raiding has resulted in negative attitudes
toward them
and a tendency to regard them as fair game for hunters.
People Helping Pigs
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) sent out an urgent
nationwide appeal for zoos to implement emergency breeding
programs. The Oregon
Zoo joins the San Diego Zoo, St. Louis Zoo and the Los Angeles
Zoo to become the fourth in the nation to help in the recovery
effort.
Pig Particulars
Scientific Name: Sus cebifrons
Range: Central
Philippine Islands
Habitat: Forests
Conservation Status: Critically endangered
Oregon Zoo Exhibit: Island Pigs of Asia
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