BUSH PIG

Bush pigs are members of the pig family.  They resemble the domestic pig and can be identified by their blunt, muscular snouts, small eyes, pointed, tufted ears, buckled toes.  Their colour varies from reddish brown to dark brown and becomes darker with age.  Both sexes have a lighter coloured mane which bristles when the animal becomes agitated.  The upper parts of the face and ears are also lighter in colour.  Their sharp tusks are fairy short and inconspicuous.  Males in this species are usually larger than females.

Bush pigs are social animals that live in sounders of up to 12 members.  A typical group will consist of a dominant male and a dominant female, with other females and juveniles accounting for the rest.  Bush pigs are nocturnal and very territorial.  They can be very aggressive, especially when they have young.  Bush pigs find shelter in dense vegetation. and build nests during rains or periods of cold.  

Their favourite activity is wallowing, they like to roll about or lie in mud or dust.  Another interesting behaviour of bush pigs is that they often follow monkeys which feed on fruits and pick up those uneaten fruits that fall to the ground.  They grunt softly while foraging, and make a long, resonant growl as an alarm call.