Identification:
Wild boars weigh 40-200 kg, with a body length of 1,350-1,500 mm and a tail length of 200-300 mm. They have a short body, a large head, a broad chest, and a smaller rump compared to the chest. Their coarse, stiff fur is black-grey in color. They have long, thick, and dense hair on their nape (neck). When agitated, this hair stands on end, making the animal appear ferocious. Their canine teeth are often large and protrude beyond the lips. Piglets have multiple yellow stripes running along their bodies.
Biology and Ecology:
Wild boars inhabit a variety of habitats, including secondary forests, sparse forests, and areas bordering cultivated fields, but they do not live in rocky mountains. They do not have fixed dwellings. They live in groups of 5-20 individuals and forage nocturnally (from dusk to near dawn), resting during the day in dense brush. They enjoy wallowing in mud. In winter, they construct nests to sleep in. Wild boars are omnivorous, consuming starchy tubers, fruits from forest trees, bamboo shoots, bananas, and various animals (frogs, geckos, earthworms, bees, etc.).
Wild boars breed year-round. The gestation period is approximately 4 months. They typically have one or two litters per year, each consisting of 7-12 piglets. The sow (female) carefully prepares a nest for giving birth. Piglets can walk normally within 30 minutes of birth. They can follow their mothers within a week and reach sexual maturity at two years old.
Distribution:
- Global: Europe, Asia, North Africa.
- Vietnam: Found throughout the mountainous and midland regions of Vietnam. This is the only species of the family Suidae present in the country.
Value and Uses:
Wild boars provide fur and meat. Their foraging activities, such as rooting in the soil, aerate the soil and improve soil health. Each year, they also deposit a significant amount of manure and urine into the forest environment. However, wild boars can also cause some damage to crops in fields, and destroy bamboo shoots.
Conservation Status:
The wild boar population in Vietnam is still relatively large. The forestry sector should manage and utilize this forest resource effectively to increase economic income.