The red river hog, or bush pig, is a wild pig species found in Africa. It is rarely seen far from tropical forests and prefers areas near rivers or swamps.
The red river hog is an intelligent animal and a wild member of the pig family, found in Western and Central Africa. With its vibrant red fur, it is one of the most colorful members of the pig family. Its body is covered with a thin, white mane running along its back.
Red river hogs weigh between 50 to 100 kg, making them one of the smaller pig species but still quite fierce. Male hogs confront rivals by butting heads, thrusting their snouts, and using their tails to strike each other. They are also ready to defend their families against predators like leopards, spotted hyenas, and pythons.
The red river hog has a striking coat of fur ranging from orange to reddish-brown, black legs, and a white mane with stripes running along its back. Adults have white markings around the eyes, on the cheeks and jaws; the rest of the nose and face is black in contrast. The hair on the jaw and sides is longer than on the rest of the body, and males have particularly prominent facial whiskers. The entire body of the red river hog is covered in fur, with no exposed skin. Males are slightly larger than females and have tusks that protrude from both sides of the snout. These protruding parts on the face are made of bone and may serve to protect the male’s face during direct combat with other males.
They use their teeth to dig up roots, tubers, and insects, and they can also swim to search for aquatic plants. Additionally, they enjoy eating the seeds of the Balanites wilsoniana tree, a type of seed they find in elephant dung.
While this species is not currently endangered, concerns arise as they continue to encroach on agricultural land and face increasing hunting pressure for bushmeat, raising the possibility of local hog populations declining.
The red river hog is found in West and Central Africa, with a distribution extending from the Congo and Gambia regions to the eastern Congo, and southward to the Kasai and Congo rivers. They inhabit tropical forests, dense and wet grasslands, wooded valleys, and areas near rivers, lakes, and swamps.
The red river hog is the most brightly colored species in the pig family, named for its reddish coat and a tendency to frequently immerse itself in streams. The coloration and distinctive markings of this species can vary slightly; individuals found in West Africa are primarily red with white stripes along the back, while those found in the habitats of East and South Africa may exhibit red, brown, or black colors, sometimes becoming darker with age.
The red river hog is primarily nocturnal and spends much of its time foraging for food. They use their large snouts to root in the soil for food, as well as to dig with their tusks and front hooves. They often follow troops of monkeys to scavenge fallen fruits. This species lives in small groups consisting of 6 to 10 individuals, including one adult male, several adult females, and their offspring. However, larger groups with more than 30 individuals can also occur, especially in favorable habitats.
Red river hogs are territorial, and male individuals actively defend their “harem” from other males. Their favorite activity is wallowing in muddy ponds and streams. They are also skilled swimmers and runners. Communication among red river hogs is almost constant, involving grunts, squeals, and barks, which can signal alarm, distress, or social interaction.
The red river hog is an omnivorous species, with its diet mainly consisting of roots and tubers. They supplement their diet with fruits, grass, herbs, eggs, carrion, insects, and dead plants, as well as lizards. They reproduce from September to April, peaking during the rainy season from November to February. Pregnancy in females lasts approximately 120 days. Mother hogs usually build nests from dry leaves and grass before giving birth to a litter of up to 6 piglets, with the most common number being 3-4 piglets. Newborn piglets typically weigh between 650 and 900g and initially have a dark brown color with yellow stripes and spots. They are weaned around 4 months old and develop their adult reddish-brown coat around 6 months, with the dark markings on the face appearing when they mature at about 2 years old.
The greatest threat to the red river hog is hunting, as it is one of the primary species harvested for commercial purposes in the bushmeat trade in much of Central Africa. In some countries, red river hogs cause damage to agricultural crops, leading farmers to pursue them. Another threat to this species is habitat loss, which also contributes to overhunting.
