Order : CETARTIODACTYLA
Family : Suidae
Species : Sus scrofa

Head-Body Length : Males up to 1.5 metres
Height : Males up to 0.8 metres
Tail Length : Males up to 300 cm
Weight : Males up to 200 kg
Females are smaller.

The Eurasian Wild Pig inhabits primary and secondary forest and will also forage in adjacent cleared or agricultural areas. In parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore the species occurs in mangroves. The Eurasian Wild Pig is a food source for Tiger and Leopard.

In parts of Southeast Asia Sus scrofa has been domesticated, giving rise to pigs of different form. The truly Eurasian Wild Pig, however, is identified by its greater size, and by the mane of bristly hairs extending along the back. The mane becomes erect when the animal is feeling threatened.

Specimens from Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are smaller than are found in other countries, and these populations probably represent a separate subspecies S. s. vittatus.

Eurasian Wild Pigs are generally to be found in groups of up to 20, though adult males are often solitary. Adult populations can vary from grey to  black to reddish brown. Juveniles are brownish with distinctive horizontal stripes. They forage mainly on roots, tubers, young shoots and plantation crops. In mangroves they feed on carrion, arthropods and molluscs.

In forested areas, Wild Pigs habitually bathe and roll in mud : their wallows gradually deepen and fill with water as successive pigs revisit the same muddy pool. This habit may help to rid the pigs of parasites, such as ticks and mites, as well as leeches.

The species ranges throughout the Southeast Asia mainland to Sumatra and Java. In Borneo and other easterly islands the species has been introduced.

In Singapore the range of this species has expanded considerably since around 2005, and is now widespread in forest and secondary scrub.

Fig 1 : Specimen from Singapore's central forests, recently emerged from a wallow.

Fig 2 : Adult Eurasian Wild Pig, with typical bristly mane, foraging in a forest clearing.

Fig 3 : The snout is long, pointed and lacks hair. 

Fig 4 : Juveniles are brownish with thick horizontal orange stripes.

Fig 5 : Pair of juveniles suckling.

Fig 6 : Tony O'Dempsey and pig wallows in secondary forest at Lower Peirce, Singapore.

Fig 7 : Wallowing in cool mud on a hot afternoon in secondary forest.

Fig 8 : Reddish brown specimen.


References : M1, M2, M3