Wild Boar

This is a picture of a wild boar at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego California. This wild boar is the Central European wild Boar found in Europe. There are many wild boars at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego California.

The Wild Boar is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig. The wild boar lives in woodlands across much of Central Europe, the Mediterranean Region (including North Africa's Atlas Mountains), and much of Asia as far south as Indonesia. This, central European wild boars are common.

Animals similar to the wild boar include the warthog of Africa and the peccary or javelina of the American Southwest. Wild boar hunting has been a popular sport in some cultures.

Wild boars can reach up to 440 lb (200 kg), occasionally even 660 lb (300 kg) for adult males (male wild boars), and can be up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long. If surprised or cornered wild boars may become aggressive and can cause injury with their tusks. However, this is quite rare and usually only occurs if a sow feels the need to defend her piglets.

The wild boar became extinct in Great Britain in the 17th century, but wild breeding populations have recently returned in some areas, particularly the Weald, following escapes from boar farms.

A wild boar at the San Diego Zoo, California

Chart of how endangered wild boars are (this chart is for Central European Wild Boar)