The wild boar is a sturdy, intelligent wild pig with a thick bristly coat. It thrives in a huge range of habitats and has spread widely, both naturally and through introductions.
Interesting facts
- Piglets have light stripes that camouflage them and fade after a few months.
- A group of wild boar is called a sounder.
- Boar dig up the ground with their snouts, which can help seeds grow but also damages crops.
- Males have sharp tusks that grow continuously.
- Wild boar populations have grown rapidly in Europe, and they now roam the outskirts of cities such as Berlin and Barcelona.
- African swine fever is a serious disease threat to wild and domestic pigs.
Behaviour
Females and young live in sounders, while adult males are mostly solitary. Boar are mostly nocturnal where they are hunted, and they wallow in mud to cool down and remove parasites.
Breeding and young
After about four months, females give birth to four to six striped piglets in a nest of grass and branches.
Threats and conservation
The species is abundant. It is heavily hunted, affected by disease and considered an invasive pest where introduced.
Where to see it
- Białowieża Forest, Poland
- Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
- Forest of Dean, England
- Kanha National Park, India
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
Wolf Watching in Spain’s Sierra de la Culebra
