Giant forest hog
(Hylochoerus meinertzhageni)
Facts
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IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)
Facts about this animal
The Giant forest hog reaches a head-body lenght of 1.3 to 2.1 m and a weight of 130 to 275 kg. Males and individuals from Eastern Africa are bigger in size than females or individuals from Western Africa.
They have a long, black fur, but when the animal ages they tend to loose more and more of their fur so they look almost naked. Their tusks which flare out- and upwards can grow to a length of 30 cm.
Did you know?
that the Giant Forest Hog is the largest wild member of the pig family?
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | MAMMALIA |
| Order | ARTIODACTYLA |
| Suborder | NONRUMINANTIA |
| Family | SUIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Hylochoerus meinertzhageni |
| Name (English) | Giant forest hog |
| Name (French) | Hylochère, sanglier noir |
| Name (German) | Riesenwaldschwein |
| Name (Spanish) | Hilóquero, Cerdo gigante |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Michell Zappa
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Western, Central and East Africa: Burundi (?), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Congo Dem., Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Habitat | Mainly in humid, forested areas. |
| Wild population | Unknown. Generally common, but threatened in some areas by hunting. |
| Zoo population | 1 reported to ISIS (2007) |
In the Zoo
How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 74 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations, should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Why do zoos keep this animal
Keeping giant forest hogs would be of considerable educational value, however, due to veterinary restrictions, no animals of this species are kept outside of the range states.
How this animal should be kept
An outdoor enclosure of no less than 200 m² is required for up to five adults, for each additional adult at least 20 m² should be added. There should be some shelter to protect the animals from intense sunlight and inclement weather. The soil should allow for rooting and wallowing, and there should be some tree trunks for chafing. Decoration consisting of larger rocks, stems or branches is well used for sketching, hiding or playing.
In temperate and cold climatic zones, an indoor enclosure of at least 30 m² is required where a temparature of at least 15 ºC should be maintained. A partly floor heating can be advantageous for litters born during winter time. A thick straw bedding is suitable. In addition, there should be separation dens of at least 4 m² for pregnant females, females with piglets and incompatible individuals.
Their main diet consists of preferably vegetables, fruit, grass, silage, leaves and hay but also protein such as cooked meat or eggs. Fresh drinking water should be permanently available.