Three 2-week-old Visayan warty pigs, born at the Oregon Zoo.This critically endangered species is native to only six islands of the Philippines and has become extinct on four of them.
More from the Oregon Zoo web site:
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:
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