Warthog

Warthog

We are delighted that Mrs Monika Zerres has taken over the sponsorship of the warthog (Phacochoerus africanus).

The warthog is at home in large parts of Africa. It can be found from Guinea in the west to Ethiopia in the east and from there southwards via Uganda to Angola and Namibia.

Warthogs are omnivores. Although they mainly feed on plant food, such as short grass and roots, they also sometimes eat fruit or small animals. They themselves are also on the "menu" of many other animals. Warthogs have to watch out for spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, wild dogs and even large birds of prey. "Our" warthog is trying to escape from a cheetah.

Warthogs only enter into short "relationships of convenience": The males only approach the females when they are ready to receive. Otherwise, 1-2 mothers and their young, which can be up to two years old, always keep to themselves. As a rule, the females give birth to one to four, in very rare cases up to eight young after a gestation period of 5-6 months.