Wild Boar

Class: Mammals

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Suidae

Weight: 150 to 200 kg

Height: 0.55-1.1 m

Body length: up to 2 m

Color: Black, gray, or brown

Age of sexual maturity: 5-7 months

Gestation period: about 114 days

Lifespan: 9-10 years

Habitat: Wild boars are found in broadleaf (beech and oak) and mixed forests of the continental part of Central Europe (from the Atlantic to the Urals); in the Mediterranean region, including some areas of North Africa such as the Atlas Mountains and Cyrenaica; in the steppe regions of Eurasia, Central Asia, and the northeastern part of Western Asia; in the north, their range extends into the taiga.

Diet: Roots and bulbs of plants, green leaves, plant shoots, berries, fruits, acorns, nuts, potatoes, and agricultural crops.

Did you know?

• Although wild boars might seem cumbersome, they are very fast animals, capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 km/h.
• In France and Italy, wild boars are trained to hunt for truffles, the most expensive mushrooms in the world. The annual harvest of truffles heavily depends on these animals.
• Wild boars are immune to snake venom and can easily eat snakes.
• In wild boar families, matriarchy prevails. Females are the leaders, while males take a secondary role.