The most convenient and readily available (can be used directly in the field) diagnostic signs for determining the age of a wild boar are the development of milk and their replacement with permanent (definitive), the formation of posterior (molars) teeth and the degree of their wear. This methodological approach has withstood a long test on numerous types of domestic animals and has long been the simplest and generally correct criterion for determining age. It turned out to be quite acceptable also for determining the age of wild ungulates.

To establish the scale of age-related changes in the dental system of the wild boar for the purpose of using it in practice, we have collected and studied over 650 skulls belonging to individuals of different sex and age. Among the collected material, there were 25 reference skulls of known age.

When processing the material, all wild boar skulls were divided into sex and age groups. Age was determined by the state of age signs of the skull and teeth, taking into account the date of shooting of a particular individual and the average date of mass birth of piglets. Although pig farrowing can be quite extended, litters that are too early and too late tend to die. Therefore, it can be considered that any wild boar population consists of well-separated age groups, the interval between which is equal to one year. Knowing the time of mass birth of piglets and the date of shooting of individual individuals, on a sufficiently large material obtained at different times of the year, it is possible to determine the sequence of development of milk teeth and their replacement with definitive ones, the formation of molars and the degree of their wear. This makes it possible to establish a fairly accurate scale of age-related changes in the dental system of the wild boar, which is subsequently used to determine the age of individual individuals.

In addition to changes in the dental system, the general features of the development of the skull, the degree of ossification of some bones, the presence of seams or boundaries between them, etc. were also taken into account.

The age indicator of a wild boar under three years old was based on objective diagnostic signs, which are expressed in the natural development of individual elements of the dental system, and for animals from four years old and older, the age criterion was the indicators obtained by eye determination of the degree of wear of the crowns of mainly posterior teeth and according to the pattern of exposed dentin. ...

It should be emphasized that dividing animals into age groups ranging from 1 year to 6 years with an interval of 1 year does not cause any particular difficulties with sufficient skill. In older groups (over 6 years old), the establishment of age with an interval of 1 year is more difficult, and therefore we took wider intervals for the groups: 6-7, 8-9, 10-12 years, etc.

Based on the order of appearance, change and degree of wear of the teeth, as well as some age signs in the structure of the skull, the entire period of postnatal ontogenesis of the wild boar was divided into ten following age groups: I - newborns (1-3 days), II - broods (from 20 days up to 3-4 months), III - fingerlings (9-12 months), IV - two years old (19-22 months), V - three years old (32-36 months), VI - four years old (about 4 years), VII - adults (about 5 years old), VIII - 6-7 years old, IX - 8-9 years old, X - 10-12 years old and older.

Wild boar hunting is as exciting as it is dangerous. A wounded boar or a frightened female with young animals are deadly dangerous. An experienced hunter explains why it is worth risking your life. Every hunt has a perfect scenario. This is when everything goes as if it was written - and the animal runs out in the right place, and the hunter always marks, and the photo with the trophy is then flaunt on the wall of your apartment or country house.

Driven wild boar hunting

For the most popular - driven - wild boar hunting, the ideal scenario is as follows.

In autumn, before the opening of the hunting season for ungulates, huntsmen visit the grounds. They inspect the places where wild boars usually stay. These are, as a rule, areas of the forest where animals feed. When traces of boars are found, you can arrange a corral. The hunters, or as they are called in these cases, the arrows (usually from six to twenty people), are located on one side of the forest area in which the herd is found, and the beaters begin to make noise and move in the direction of the shooters. The wild boars are trying to get away from the danger and go to the line of shooters. Don't yawn, because these seemingly bulky and clumsy animals actually run very fast.

Ideally, you raise your gun, shoot, and the trophy is yours. But in reality, things often happen very differently. I will describe a few memorable cases.

  • Tea with cognac and a herd of underyearlings

My acquaintance, the hunter Gennady, stood at the room and was bored. There were 15 riflemen on the clearing with an interval of 80-100 meters from each other. There were wild boars in the paddock, a whole herd of young of the year, together with a mother-pig. It was strictly forbidden to shoot a pig, because in a year it will again bring offspring, and it will be possible to successfully hunt young animals again. Therefore, one had to be very attentive and cold-blooded.

But the herd will come out only to one shooter. In the best case, if he runs for some time along the line of shooters, then two or three hunters will be able to shoot. In this way, driven hunting is somewhat similar to roulette - one chance in ten. On the previous hunt, Gennady took a wild boar, so the chances this time were (according to the theory of probability) minimal. The corral had just begun, the shouts of the beaters and the barking of dogs could be heard in the distance. You can have time to drink hot tea from a thermos. The gun was hanging nearby on a branch of a spreading spruce, in the crown of which Gennady was standing.

Screams and barking approached, but the dogs were clearly walking along the side. “They pulled it to the left,” thought the hunter, continuing to sip a fragrant drink, where, in addition to tea and lemon, there was also a hefty portion of cognac.

At this time, an incomprehensible crack was heard from the nearest underbrush on the side of the corral. From there, a hefty pig flew out like a bullet and quickly rushed under the very spruce where the hunter was so comfortable. Gennady did not have time to think about anything, as the pig knocked him down. After her, one after another, a dozen young of the year ran. When the stomping and grunting of fleeing animals ceased, Gennady slowly got up. Cold sweat broke out on his back. And this did not happen out of fear that a frightened boar with her fangs and hooves could cripple, or even take her life. He was afraid of what he would say to his hunting companions. Why didn't he shoot at the young of the year who ran right through him? “I’ll tell the truth,” he decided, and then, three hundred meters to his left, shots rang out. “That means there are two herds in the paddock,” the thought flashed through the hunter's head. This changed the situation. “Or maybe they won't understand what happened to me. If they get the hogs, they may not even realize that there were two herds. " With such thoughts, the hunter lifted a thermos and a mug with the spilled remnants of the ill-fated tea from the ground.

The case is comic, but it could also become tragic. Wild boar hunting is quite serious and dangerous. You can't relax for a minute.

  • Record-breaking chopper

Another story happened in Ukraine, too, with my acquaintance - Alexander - and also on a driven hunt. The first corral was empty. In the second, Alexander became a beater. Not far from him walked the local huntsman Fedor. The dogs, who also worked in the paddock and "tightly" knew their own well, this time for some reason ran away in a completely different direction. Even before the hunt, Fyodor said that a wild boar was wandering around here, judging by the footprints of unprecedented and fabulous sizes. “Exactly! The dogs grabbed him! I guessed it by barking. Let's run there sooner, Sanya! "

A couple of times I had to stop to catch my breath and listen more attentively to the dog's barking, the sound of which gradually approached and turned to the left. “This cleaver did not go into the swamp. Walking along the edge of the forest. I know where he should go! Let's run soon! " - Fyodor shouted softly, and the hunters ran through the autumn Ukrainian forest again.

Then they saw a huge cleaver, which crossed the swamp to the friendly barking of dogs. Fyodor, throwing up his gun, rushed to cut the boar. Alexander stopped the huntsman. “I'll take it myself,” he shouted and went to meet the boar. Usually, the beast, having noticed a person, turns away. This one was breaking through the forest right at the hunter. “You won't take such a boar with a bullet soon,” thought Sasha and made the first shot. The chopper continued walking as if a bullet had passed. “It's impossible to miss from this distance! Even with a hangover! " - Sasha twitched the shutter and made another shot. After the second, the boar settled on its hind legs, but continued to move towards the hunter on some of the front legs. The distance was rapidly closing. “God loves a trinity,” thought Sasha and made another shot, aiming at the chest. The beast staggered, fell to its knees, and with a deep sigh fell onto its side. The distance between him and the hunter was no more than four meters.

They managed to move the carcass only with a jeep winch. Then ten of them barely dragged the animal into the back of the "UAZ". After weighing the wild boar, it turned out to be about 400 kg, and the trophy itself, as a result of measuring the canines resembling small mammoth tusks, and registering with the International Safari Club (SCI), took first place in the world. Unfortunately, a larger specimen has now been mined.

Wild boar hunting from the tower

Another way to hunt wild boar is from a tower. At first glance, she is less emotional and attractive, but she also has its advantages. First, you can hunt alone, without a team and without beaters. The probability of catching the animal is almost one hundred percent, since the towers are located right at the bait areas, and the animals, if they are not disturbed by frequent hunts, visit such places regularly. In good farms, for example in Zavidovo, the gamekeepers even know the number of pigs and the time (with an accuracy of fifteen minutes!) When the animals will come to the tower. This usually happens at dusk. Of course, on the tower, which is a miniature hut with a door and a loophole, located on strong pillars high above the ground (3-4 meters), hunting is practically safe for the shooter.

Once I was lucky enough to sit with a colleague on a tower in Zavidovo, however, without weapons, only with a camera. At the time indicated by the huntsman, a small hog, a scout, ran out of the forest to the platform in front of the tower. The young of the year spun around the site a little, eating food, grunted something, and after half a minute the others appeared. It was difficult to count the boars. We constantly got lost, but there were at least 35-40 animals. Underyearlings, gilts, females, small males.

But this is in Zavidovo. In simpler farms, animals go to the towers in smaller numbers and one by one. Females with juveniles, or single barkers. Old large wild boars are very cautious (that's why they lived to a venerable age!) And come, as a rule, at night. It is difficult to hunt them, sometimes you have to sit in vain for more than one night. The beast may come up, and, smelling a foreign smell, not come to the tower. You can just "make some noise", awkwardly turning on the tower, and creak the seat, cough, drop something. It is possible, in low light conditions, to simply lubricate or easily injure the animal. There are night vision scopes, but their use in hunting is prohibited.


Wild boar hunting on oats

Such a wild boar hunt is successful in August. It also comes from a tower at the edge of the field specially planted oats for this purpose. The towers are equipped very simply. Most often, this is a wide board, fixed in the crown of a tree at a height of 3-4 m. Sitting on a tower at the end of August is, of course, warmer than in late autumn or winter, but mosquitoes pester you, and you especially can't move. Naturally, you should not use ointments. By the way, at the same time bears go out to the oat fields and they are hunted in the same way. In the evening, and even more so at night, it is difficult to understand who came out of the forest - a wild boar or a bear. The hunter hunts "the wrong animal". It is also fraught with the payment of a fine, or you need to stock up on licenses for both the wild boar and the bear.

Nikolay Kokoulin

Wild boar hunting safety rules

  • "Stand on the number" - the term refers to collective, "driven" hunts, where the shooters stand motionless on the "shooting line". The standing point on the "number" is determined by the head of the hunt. Usually the duration of the corral does not exceed an hour.
  • It is strictly forbidden to shoot along the line of the shooters, but only at an angle of at least 15 degrees.
  • Do not shoot at a poorly visible target. Otherwise, you can get into a beater or a dog.
  • You can load the weapon only while standing on the room, and immediately unload it after the end of the corral.
  • It is strictly forbidden to leave the room until you are removed by the head of the hunt.
  • Shoot only at animals that are hunted.

Wild boar hunting prices

  • Licenses for the production of underyearlings, gilts and adult wild boars have different costs.
    • hunting for wild boar (young piglets of this year) - from 10-15,000 rubles;
    • hunt for gilts (young wild boars of last year's farrowing) - from 15-20,000 rubles;
    • hunting for wild boar (large male with tusks) - from 25-30,000 rubles and more!
  • The most expensive are large "trophy" males - cleavers. The meat of such specimens is most often not edible. Hunting is carried out exclusively because of the trophy qualities of the animal, in this case, the fangs.
  • Add to these prices the cost of gamekeeping, accommodation and other services. However, the further the farm is located from the capital and the worse the infrastructure there, the lower the prices for trophies.

The wild boar is a cloven-hoofed animal belonging to the suborder porcine (the “pig” family). Other names for wild boars: "boar", "wild pig". Wild boars are believed to be the ancestors of modern domestic pigs. Despite such a close "relationship", they are strikingly different from domestic pigs. Read this article and you will learn a lot of interesting facts about these animals.

The wild boar is a relative of the domestic pig, but it is strikingly different from the usual domestic animals.

Boars are distinguished by a dense and muscular constitution. Their limbs are longer than those of ordinary pigs. The boar's head is elongated and wedge-shaped. The ears are erect and large. Males (cleavers) have well-developed canines above and below, which gives them a fiercely warlike appearance. The body of a wild boar is covered with thick fur, which looks like a kind of mane on the back. In winter, the wool is dense, with the onset of warmth it becomes more rare. The color of the fur can be grayish, brown, up to black. In wild boars, acromelanism is observed (staining the muzzle, tail and limbs in black color). On the territory of Central Asia, there are animals with a lighter, reddish shade of fur.

Piglets up to six months of age are colored differently than adult wild boars. Their fur is an alternation of stripes of light, brown and yellow. The cub of the wild boar merges with the terrain and is almost invisible to predators.

Habitat

  • the whole territory of Europe;
  • Asia Minor, Middle East;
  • northern part of Africa;
  • India;
  • east and southeast of Asia.

The wild boar can be found in any area except mountains and pigs.

The wild boar is not found in the steppe regions and mountainous terrain. The wild boar is also found in the southern part of Siberia: in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the south of the Irkutsk Region. But Transbaikalia with hills and hills is not to the taste of these animals.

Wild boars also live in North America. They were brought to the United States from Europe for hunting purposes. The population of Australian wild pigs is interesting. These are feral domestic pigs that lead the same lifestyle as their wild European counterparts. Of course, this is not a separate species of wild boar.

Unfortunately, in many regions the wild boar has been completely or almost completely exterminated. On the territory of England, wild boars were exterminated in the 13th century, on the territory of Denmark - in the 19th. On the territory of Russia, the number of wild boars fell dramatically by the thirties of the last century. In the 50s of the twentieth century, systematic care for wild boars and the restoration of the animal population began. Now you can find them even in such a densely populated area as, for example, Losiny Ostrov near Moscow.

Types of wild boars

It is believed that the pig is the second animal domesticated by man (the first was the dog). As for the species diversity of these animals living in the wild, 9 of their species are known.

  • Boar . Lives in European and Asian forests. Introduced by man to the American continent. About 25 subspecies of this animal are known.
  • Warthog. The habitat of the warthog is the African savannah. It got its name from the growths of skin on the face. The beast is large enough. Its height reaches 0.85 m, weight - up to 150 kg.
  • River brush-eared pig... Lives in Central Africa. This pig is wearing a bright outfit. Her coat is red, with a white stripe on the back. Her diet is quite varied. Along with plant food, brush-eared pigs do not disdain carrion, feed on small mammals, birds, insects.
  • Small brush-eared pig lives in Madagascar and in the east of the African continent. The weight of the animal is about 70 kg.
  • Big forest pig lives in equatorial African forests. The weight of the animal is 200 kg or more. This species was discovered relatively recently, at the beginning of the 20th century. The diet of these pigs is exclusively vegetarian.
  • Bearded pig lives in southeast Asia, in the mangrove forests of the Indonesian islands. It differs from its plump "relatives" in a more "athletic" physique. The weight of the animal does not exceed 50 kg. Like most pigs, bearded pigs are omnivorous.
  • Babirussa also inhabits the islands of Indonesia. The height of the animal at the withers is 0.8 m, its weight is 80 kg. Differs in low fertility (no more than 2 piglets). It belongs to rare species (about 4 thousand pigs of this species have survived in nature).
  • Javanese pig.
  • Dwarf pig- the smallest representative of this family. Its length is no more than 0.65 m, and its height is no more than 0.30 m.

There are more than a dozen species of wild boars that differ greatly in appearance.

Dimensions and weight

They depend on the habitats of these animals. The smallest representatives of the boar tribe live in the south of India and in southeast Asia. A few words about how much a wild boar weighs. The maximum weight of adult wild boars does not exceed 45 kg. But wild boars living in Europe are much larger and more massive. Carpathian individuals, for example, have a mass of 200 kg. The largest pigs are found in Eastern Europe: from the Carpathians to the Urals. The maximum weight of a wild boar is about 300 kilograms. And the "record" registered weight of a boar-boar is 320 kg. Impressive animals are found in Italy and France (average weight 150 and 230 kg, respectively).

The average body weight of a wild boar varies from 80 to 120 kilograms, with a body length of 900 - 2000 cm. The height at the withers averages 550-1100 cm.

The average weight of a wild boar is about 100 kg.

Life span, breeding features

In natural conditions, wild boars live on average from 10 to 12 years. The lifespan of animals in captivity increases to 20 years. The mating season for these animals falls on November-December. By the beginning of the rut, male wild boars are overgrown with fat and additional muscle mass on the sides, 20-30 mm thick. This "armor" protects boars from the fangs of competitors, which also claim the attention of brides.

During estrus, a female pig-boar carefully marks its own territory with the help of saliva and secretions that are secreted from the glands. The male finds the female by these marks.

During the mating season, the cleavers lose fat, their bodies are covered with wounds from numerous tournaments with other males. But the award for the winner is the "harem", which includes from 3 to 8 females. The feral pig bears offspring for about 115 days. Farrowing occurs in April. The first litter of a female usually consists of 2 to 3 piglets, but there are also “record holders” with 10-12 pups per litter. 2-3 days before farrowing, the pig is separated from the herd and prepares the place for birth. She digs a small depression in the ground, throwing branches at it.

A wild pig produces offspring in an amount of 3 to 8 individuals.

The average weight of newborn piglets is 0.75 - 1.0 kg. For 5-6 days, they are next to their mother in an impromptu nest. Then the family reunites with the herd. The piglet follows the mother everywhere. A wild pig feeds piglets with milk up to 3.5 months. A wild boar grows up to 5-6 years of age. Females become sexually mature at one and a half years, males - much later. They begin to look after the ladies at the age of 5-6.

Lifestyle, nutrition

The wild pig is a herd animal. The group of wild boars is 20-50 individuals. They have matriarchy: the group is headed by a female. The hog keeps on the sidelines, joining the ladies' company only at the beginning of the mating season. Animals feed in the morning and evening. Day and night serve as a time of rest for them. Pigs are cautious and shy. Their eyesight is not the best, but their hearing and scent are excellent.

The specificity of the diet is due to the fact that wild boars dig the ground with their noses.

  • They love to feast on the roots, bulbs and tubers of plants.
  • Boars feed on young shoots of shrubs, eat leaves, collect fallen fruits, and do not refuse nuts.
  • Wild boars eat worms and frogs from animal food. This "gourmet" never misses an opportunity to feast on carrion, sometimes ruining bird nests located within his reach.
  • Sometimes a wild boar harms a person, ruining fields and crops.

Wild boars love plant food, but do not disdain worms and frogs.

Wild pigs are great swimmers and runners. Even a wide river or lake is not a serious obstacle for them. Considering its large body weight, an adult animal is quite dangerous.

Enemies

All large predators are considered the enemies of wild boars. But, given the impressive size and weight of the wild boar, even tigers prefer not to mess with adult males, not to mention wolves or bears. A large boar can defeat a bear or a wild cat without much difficulty. Fangs and hooves are a rather formidable weapon of a wild boar. Therefore, young individuals usually become victims of predators.

Hunting features

Man is one of the boar's most dangerous enemies. The boar head trophy with fangs is the dream of any hunter. Wild boar meat is tasty and healthy. Bristles are also used: for the production of brushes, razor brushes and combs. Boar bristles are also suitable for making paint brushes.

Wild boar hunting is a very popular pastime.

They hunt forest pigs with dogs. Horse hunting for wild boars is popular in the forest-steppe regions. This occupation is quite dangerous. The beast itself is not aggressive, but if you scare or anger it, it may well stand up for itself. This is especially true for females with calves.

Diseases

Here is a list of the most dangerous diseases of these animals.

Plague

The most dangerous disease of wild boars that does not spare animals of all ages. The causative agent of this disease is a filterable virus. The disease is highly contagious. In a frozen corpse of a wild boar, the virus lasts up to six months, in a decaying one - for several months. Since pigs live in herds, infection of one animal can lead to massive disease and death. The virus also infects domestic pigs. The meat of a sick animal is edible after boiling for 1 - 1.5 hours. It is impossible to import shot carcasses into the territory of settlements. Disinfection of meat is carried out in the conditions of specialized enterprises.

Disposal of the corpses of dead animals is carried out by filling them with lime, followed by burying them at a depth of two meters. Prevention of mass infection of wild pigs is the shooting of sick individuals, as well as vaccination of animals.

Wild boars often suffer from plague, which greatly reduces their livestock.

Scabies

It affects animals during hungry times. Eating the corpses of animals affected by scabies, the boar falls ill on its own. Reproducing in the skin, the itch mite causes hair loss and severe itching. The animals strayed from the herd are shot. The skin of the killed animal is disposed of. Meat is considered conditionally edible.

Trichinosis

When eating the corpses of animals affected by trichinosis, the wild boar becomes infected with this disease. In this case, muscle tissue suffers. Boars are also affected by a disease such as helminthiasis.

In order to restore the population of wild pigs after the mass mortality caused by boar diseases, it is advisable to prohibit hunting these animals for 2-3 years. The disturbance factor for animals must be minimized in order to avoid their mass migration.

  • Order: Artiodactyla Owen, 1848 = Artiodactyls
  • Suborder: Nonruminantia Jaeckel, 1911 = Non-ruminant, porcine
  • Family: Suidae Gray, 1821 = Pigs, pigs
    •

    Species: Sus scrofa = Wild boar, wild pig

    FIELD SIGNS. DESCRIPTION

    The wild boar is a large animal, somewhat clumsy in constitution, with a massive body and relatively short legs. The muzzle is elongated, conical, ending in a bare flat cartilaginous "patch", on which the nostrils open. In autumn, winter and spring, the body of the animal is covered with bristles, especially hard and long (12 - 13 cm) on the ridge, where it forms a mane. There is a thick and soft underfur under the bristles. Thanks to the dense underfur, the skin is not wetted, so the wild boar willingly goes into the water (it swims well) in summer and winter, it is protected from cooling in the water by subcutaneous fat deposition. In summer, after the spring molt, the wild boar is almost devoid of hair, covered only with sparse short bristles.

    When moving, the boar rests not only on the 3rd and 4th fingers, but also on the 2nd and 5th. On soft ground, all 4 fingers move apart to increase the footprint.

    The tail is short, 25 cm, not curled. When the animal is calm and digs in the soil, the tail, which is in motion all the time, is lowered down; while running, the boar holds the tail horizontally or lifts it up.

    Body length 125 - 175 cm, height at the withers 80 - 100 cm, weight of adults, animals 150 - 270 kg. The conical, laterally compressed shape of the boar's body with stiff bristles facilitates easy movement in dense thickets. The ears are long and wide. The eyes are small, barely visible from the outside, placed in deep sockets and protected by a tuft of bristly hair. The color of the wild boar is black, reddish-brown, sandy, silvery-gray. Piglets are light brown, with bright longitudinal stripes on the back and sides. The skin of the wild boar is white.

    The teeth are well developed, especially the canines. The canines of the upper jaw are relatively short, curved, with their ends directed to the sides and upward. The canines of the lower jaw are triangular in shape and grow upward. They are especially dangerous in three-year-olds, at the age of 4 - 5 they begin to bend back. In boars, the canines reach a length of 10 cm, the canines of pigs are much smaller. With the age of the animal, the fangs are strongly erased and break off.

    DETERMINATION OF GENDER AND AGE UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS

    In appearance, three age groups can be distinguished: piglets (fingerlings), gilts (two years old) and adults. It is especially easy to distinguish between piglets and adults, it is more difficult to distinguish between pigs, since a large pig can be confused with a pig.

    Piglets are smaller, lighter in color than adults (light color lasts up to a year) and longer legs. In pigs (in the 2nd year of life), the withers develop, the bristles grow along the back. Adult animals are more massive than pigs, the bristles on the back grows more strongly. This difference is especially well manifested in wild boars.

    In the field, it is quite possible to distinguish an adult male from a pig, and not only because the burgers have long, curving canines (just the canines are poorly visible at a distant distance in the twilight), but rather by the silhouette. Males are distinguished by a larger head, a massive front part of the body, they have a more developed withers and a more magnificent "mane" along the crest of the back. They look slimmer than females, possibly due to the fact that their torso is flattened from the sides, while females have a barrel-shaped torso.

    In young individuals - piglets and gilts - sexual demorphism is poorly developed.

    Piglets usually weigh 25 - 45 kg (the weight of the animal largely depends on the feeding conditions and the timing of breeding), piglets - up to 65 - 70 kg (with good feed, sometimes more), adult animals: females from 120 to 180, males - from 140 up to 200 kg. The weight of the largest cleavers reaches 260 kg and more.

    The most accessible definition of age is based on the development of the dental system and the degree of wear. There are two known works for determining the age of wild boar using this method: for the Western European wild boar (Kozlo, 1975) and for the Ussuri boar (Bromley, 1969). Below is a description of the dental system of wild boars of different age groups for the autumn-winter season, that is, during the hunting period.

    Piglets (7 - 11 months) - 36 teeth in total. By this age, usually the 3rd milk incisor is replaced by a permanent one, and the 1st and 2nd incisors are noticeably worn out. The change of milk teeth begins. Foreroots are still milky, but begin to wear out. In the third antero-root tooth, the chewing surface becomes tapered. In the 1st large molar, by 10 - 11 months, the masticatory tubercles are smoothed out.

    Gilts (18 - 23 months) - a total of 40 teeth. By this age, the change of milk teeth to permanent ones usually ends. The second large molar is fully developed.

    Two-year-old individuals - a total of 40 - 42 teeth. The third molar begins to develop. Foreroot are fully differentiated and have obliterated apices. The canines of males reach a length of up to 40 mm; in females, they are noticeably shorter.

    Three-year-old individuals - the number of teeth is 44. The incisors are weakly worn, the wear of the antero-root increases. The 1st and 2nd posterior teeth begin to wear off.

    Four-year-old individuals. All teeth bear traces of wear, and most importantly, the third posterior tooth begins to smooth out, where dentin lines appear.

    Five-year-old individuals. At the 1st and 2nd incisors, the upper inner sides are grinded. As a result of erasure, the incisors are shortened. The surfaces of the anterior and posterior molars are strongly worn out, and in the 1st and 2nd, the tubercles and folds of the enamel are erased, the dentin takes a star-shaped shape, this is especially characteristic of the 3rd large molar, although it still has tubercles. In barbers, transverse grooves are outlined on the upper canines, which correspond to the age of the animal (this feature does not appear in all individuals).

    Six- and seven-year-old individuals. The incisors are sharply sharpened and shortened. The molars are worn out much more strongly than in animals of previous ages. In the antero-root teeth, the dentin appears as dark stripes, in the posterior teeth, small folds begin to wear off, and individual dentin stars are interconnected with dark spots. At the 1st large molar, the crown begins to grind.

    Eight year olds and older individuals. The teeth begin to decay and fall out. Especially often the 3rd incisors and 1st and 2nd antero-root teeth break off. The canines are gradually thinning. The crowns of all molars are erased. In old individuals (10 years old and older), the posterior teeth are worn out almost to the gums, the enamel folds disappear. ...

    The boar is a famous animal that appears in films and cartoons and is mentioned in books. This is a coveted and challenging hunting trophy. A wild boar in heraldry means strength and fearlessness. This is a kind of beast with interesting habits.

    Description

    The wild boar is a cloven-hoofed animal from the family of pigs. Some scientists believe that the species originated in southeast Asia (in the Philippines or Indonesia). Later, wild boars came to the north of Africa and Eurasia.

    The boar is a close relative of the domestic pig. Outwardly, they are similar, but many characteristics are very different:

    1. The boar's body is shorter and stronger. The body is muscular, tapering towards the legs. The front of the body is especially strong.
    2. The short, powerful legs are longer than those of a pig.
    3. The head of the wild boar is more elongated, wedge-shaped. Big pointed ears stick out. The animal has excellent hearing and scent, but poor vision and small eyes.
    4. The neck is thick and short.
    5. Large and sharp canines. Especially frightening - on the lower jaw. Canines grow throughout life. Probably, because of them, hardened males are called choppers - in honor of the tool of the same name (a hybrid of a knife and an ax). The canines of males are much larger - up to 25 cm in length.
    6. The snout is coarse, because with its help the boar searches for food, digging in the ground.
    7. The body is covered with hair that looks like coarse bristles. In winter, the protective cover becomes denser. During stress, the coat puffs up, a kind of mane appears.
    8. Coloring - camouflage, depending on the place of residence. As a rule, these are shades from whitish and gray to black with a bluish tint, more often brownish, brown. The muzzle, tail, legs (below) are darker than the main color. Up to six months, the piglet is painted in stripes: brown, yellowish and light. This enhances camouflage.
    9. Straight ponytail with tassel. Length - 18-25 cm.

    A wild pig "communicates" with the help of screeching and grunting, thus giving an alarm signal or a battle cry.

    Weight and dimensions

    An adult boar looks intimidating. In addition to the fangs, the size is also impressive. Animals have the following dimensions:

    • body length - 90–180 cm;
    • height at the withers - up to 1.2 m.

    Weight - from 90 to 300 kg. The hardened cleavers weigh more than the rest. Weight depends on gender, lifestyle, habitat, diet.

    The smallest boars live in southeast Asia and India. Their maximum weight is about 45 kg. Larger than the rest are animals inhabiting the area between the Urals and the Carpathians. Sometimes they weigh more than 300 kg. In Primorye and Manchuria, there are specimens weighing up to half a ton.

    The record holder was shot in the Sverdlovsk region four years ago. With a growth of about 2 m, the weight of the boar was more than 500 kg.

    Females are smaller, sexual dimorphism is pronounced. The height does not exceed 90 cm. The maximum weight is about 200 kg.


    Varieties

    The boar genus is part of the pig family. Boars are its brightest representatives. The relatives are pigs - domestic, Javanese and others.

    Wild boars inhabit vast territories on different continents. The differences are mainly related to habitats, climate, food. Among the boars, 16 subspecies are distinguished. They are divided into four groups:

    1. Western. This includes 7 subspecies of the wild boar. A well-known representative is Central European. These are not the largest animals: the length of the male is 130–140 cm, the average weight is 100 kg. They live in Russia, Europe.
    2. Indian. This group includes two subspecies. One of them is called Indian. These are peaceful animals. In India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, they quietly coexist with people. They have a lighter coat when compared to other species.
    3. Eastern... There are 6 subspecies, the largest among them is Ussuriysk. The standard boar length is 170–180 cm, weight is about 300 kg. This group and the western one are the most numerous.
    4. Indonesian. Only one subspecies was included here - the Malaysian wild boar. A small boar when compared to the rest. It is found from the islands of Java and Sumatra to Komodo. Probably, these places are the ancestral home of wild boars.

    Ussuriysk

    Malaysian

    Habitat

    Wild pigs live in different parts of the world, inhabiting vast territories:

    • Europe completely;
    • Africa, especially the north;
    • different parts of Asia;
    • America, where animals were brought for hunting.

    Wild boar-domestic pig hybrids are a serious threat to agriculture. Fields in the states of South America are especially affected by their forays. Escaped and feral domestic pigs live in Australia.

    In some countries, the population of these animals has been destroyed or reduced, for example:

    1. In Great Britain, boars were dealt with in the 13th century. Only about 30 years ago there was a population of feral animals that escaped from special farms.
    2. In Denmark, wild boars were almost completely exterminated in the 19th century. About 50 years ago, animals began to reappear in the wild.
    3. In Russia, wild boars became few by the 30s of the XX century. After 20 years, the number began to recover. Today, pigs can be found even near densely populated areas.

    Wild pigs love forests and water and often live in swampy areas. In Russia, oak and beech forests are preferred, but they are also found in mixed ones.

    They tolerate different weather conditions, climate. Wild boars live in areas ranging from semi-deserts to humid tropical forests. There are separate populations on the islands, for example, in Corsica, Sumatra.

    Pigs do not like hills, hills, mountains, although sometimes they live there too. For example, in the Caucasus, they rise to an altitude of 2600 m. In Russia, they are not found only in the tundra and taiga. The wild boar is one of the most common mammals.


    Lifestyle

    Boars try to stick to wet places overgrown with forest, bushes, and reeds. The wild pig is one of the social animals. Most live in groups. The role of leaders is performed by females. The herd consists of wild boars, piglets and juveniles. Young and weak males are subordinate. Fortified mature males live separately from the herd and approach it only for mating.

    The herd, as a rule, consists of 10-30 individuals. Rarely there are "teams" of up to 100 goals. Animals often roam, but only within their territory. The area of ​​the herd, according to some scientists, is 1–4 km².

    Females mature in the second year of life, their partners in the fourth or fifth. In temperate climates, the mating season lasts from November to January. There are 1-3 females per male. The boars are actively fighting. The winners sometimes get up to 8 females.

    Wild boars give birth to 4–12 piglets once a year. Hatched for about 18 weeks. The female wild boar takes care of the offspring and actively protects it. Feeds milk up to 3.5 months. By the next fall, each cub of the wild boar weighs 20–30 kg.

    Boars are fast but clumsy animals. They run at speeds up to 40–45 km / h. The animals swim well, sometimes - at decent distances, they dig well.

    Boars are active in the dark, and during the day they rest in a shelter. They dig a hole 30–40 cm deep on their own, throw leaves on the bottom. Sometimes several animals rest in the pit.

    What wild boars eat

    Boars are almost omnivorous. Their "menu" is varied:

    1. They love vegetation: roots, bulbs, fruits, acorns, nuts, mushrooms, berries, and more.
    2. In winter, they eat bark, shoots, twigs.
    3. The wild boar also feeds on animal food: snails, amphibians, worms, rodents, insects, birds and their eggs, fish.
    4. Sometimes animals eat carrion.


    Food depends on the subspecies and habitat. For example, on the island of Java, boars eat fruit; animals living in the Volga basin - fish and small rodents.

    Boars consume 3–6 kg of feed per day. Most forage from the topsoil (litter). Here wild boars receive 2/3 of the ration.

    Pigs dig a lot of forest land in search of food. They unwittingly sow seeds and protect trees from pests such as the pine moth. Improves the soil.

    In times of famine, wild boars come to the fields, orchards. There they feast on potatoes, turnips, grains and other crops. Plots are trampled down, young trees are eaten at dachas.

    The wild boar is not a predator, but when the food is very bad, it attacks birds and hares. In extreme cases, it even eats deer, roe deer and other large animals, however, only weakened, sick or wounded. Do not disdain carrion.

    Wild boars eat some poisonous plants. Due to a special mutation, there may be snakes in their diet, the poison of which is also not terrible for boars. However, under normal conditions, wild boars only eat plants.

    Natural enemies

    Due to its size and fangs, almost everyone in the forest is afraid of the boar. Plus, the beasts are brave and ferocious, especially when injured or protecting their offspring. However, they have enemies in nature:

    1. Wolves. For example, in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, packs of predators hunt wild boars. But usually wolves attack weaker and younger individuals.
    2. The Bears. An adult male wild boar is a rare prey for this animal, there is a great risk of dying yourself. The bear is looking for a weaker victim.
    3. Large felines: lynxes, leopards, tigers. As a rule, sick or small animals are killed.
    4. Komodo dragon.
    5. Big snakes, birds of prey. Some lagging wild pig becomes their prey.

    The most dangerous enemy for the beast is man. Wild boar hunting is popular, it is considered active recreation and extreme entertainment.


    Life span

    Under natural conditions, wild boars live for 10-15 years, but many do not live up to ten.

    Wild boars also live under human supervision: in zoos and reserves. Private traders sometimes keep them in suburban areas. They build covered pens there, treat them with a variety of food. They try to create conditions that resemble natural conditions, for example, they put grass and leaves on the ground in the "pigsty". In such conditions, the animals last up to twenty years. Domestic pigs with normal maintenance live almost twice as long.

    Approximately 10% of wild boars are killed by hunters or poachers. In addition to lack of food and predators, other dangers await wild boars in nature - plague, scabies, trichinosis and other diseases.

    The danger of a boar to humans

    Wild boars, like many other animals, attack only when necessary. They don't kill for fun. Some subspecies are more peaceful, for example, Indian. However, any animal sometimes becomes dangerous: someone angered, wounded, there is a threat to offspring.

    Adult male wild boar inflict terrible lacerations with fangs and bruises. The blow is from the bottom up. Females knock a person down and trample them with their hooves.

    Noticing a wild boar or its tracks in the forest, you need to quietly leave. The beast is unlikely to attack first, but the meeting must be avoided. If it took place, take into account the following:

    1. The wild boar does not see well and does not notice a person at a distance of about 15 m. However, the sense of smell and hearing are excellently developed.
    2. There is no point in running - the boar will even catch up with the cyclist.
    3. You need to climb a tree, even at a low height - at least 1 m. The animal has a thick, motionless neck, so it cannot throw a person off.
    4. It is better to leave the attacking beast, jump aside. You need to do this when he is very close.
    5. Do not scare the wild boar away by throwing small objects, branches or cones, even while sitting in a tree. This will not help, but will only anger the beast.
    6. A knife or shocker is almost useless in the fight against a boar. The best weapon is large-caliber firearms.
    7. A mortally wounded animal is sometimes able to run up to a hundred meters and take revenge on the offender. This happened even when it got into the heart.
    8. In the mating season, the cleavers have reliable protection from cartilage on their backs, on the sides.
    9. The best targets are the brain or spinal cord (spine). If the enemy is already close, shoot in the forehead. During the attack, the animal lowers its head.

    The wild boar is a formidable forest dweller. The life of a boar is interesting, but it is better to watch it on TV or in the zoo.