Wildlife: Mammals -
Warthog 2/3
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Birds |
Mammals |
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Wildlife
Phacochoerus Aethiopicus, Warthog, Vlakvark.
Life history
Oestrus lasts 3 days, gestation takes up to 175 days. Litter season in the
Kruger National Park is usually in October unto December. Birth weight varies
from 480 gramms up to 850 gramms. A sibling will take solid food from 3 weeks of
age. The warthog becomes sexually mature at 18 months of age. Sustained
population growth at 45%. Thus making the warthog a very successful animal in
surviving. Young warthogs are victim to pythons, large raports, and predators
from jackhals size onward. Warthogs supply between 12% and 15% of lion, leopard
and wild dog diets in Kruger National Park. .
 Behaviour
The warthog is usually active during the day. But at night there
will be some activity, even during winter. Shelter is found in
large holes, abandoned aardvark dwellings, caves, erosion
gulleys, overhangs in river banks and other similar places.
Warthogs will retreat into their dwelling backwards, thus using
their tusks as protection. The hard edge of the muscular snout
is used for digging. Because of the short neck the warthog will
sit on its front knees to feed on grasses. At times the warthog
will compete with cheetah and wild dogs on their fresh kills.
Warthogs will suffer from droughts immensely. During the 1982
and 1983 drought in the Kruger National Park up to 90% of the
juveniles died. Since digestion is not efficient, much like an
elephant, the food they take must be of premium quality. They
will have home ranges up to 374 hectares, 174 is most common
though. Adult warthogs usually are not preyed upon since they
are formidable opponents.
Field Signs
Soft dung, flattened segments, stuck together in rough, often
misshaped cylinders. Trees scraped with tusks and holes can be
signs as well.
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