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Wild Boar

Wild Boar - Photo © Copyright 2006 Malcolm Mitchell
Photo: Malcolm Mitchell

UK Safari Tip:
Get help identifying the tracks and trails left by mammals with this fully illustrated fold-out chart - click here

Latin name: Sus scrofa

Size: Length approximately 100 to 160cms

Distribution: Two populations in the Forest of Dean; one based on Ross on Wye, and another in the area of Staunton in the SW of the forest. They have also spread over the River Wye into Wales with animals reported as far down as Tintern on the Welsh side. Other breeding populations of wild boar can be found in Kent, Sussex and Dorset.

Months seen: All year round

Food: Mostly nuts, berries, acorns, beech mast and root crops.

Habitat: Mainly found in deciduous woodland

Special features: Wild boar were once widespread in the UK, but by the end of the 1600's (or possibly earlier) they had been hunted to extinction. A few colonies now exist in southern England as a result of farm escapes.

Wild boar are quite different, in appearance to domestic pigs. They have a long wiry coat of brown hair, with thick brown belly fur. The male has two upward pointing canine tusks. The piglets have brown and cream stripes running along the length of their bodies, helping to camouflage them.


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UK Safari Mammal Section








 © 2006 G. Bradley. All Rights Reserved