Wild boar

The wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) is a omnivorous Mammifère near to the Porc, of which he is the ancestor, pertaining to the family of the Suidé S. This one belongs to the Taxon of the Artiodactyle S Suiforme S.

Its female names the thin layer, the small ones are young wild boars, the young people of the " animals rousses" , old males of the " solitaires".

Etymology

At the origin, the word wild boar comes from Latin singularis , which wants to say “singular”: “single, insulated, solitary”, by what the wild boar saw in group only in its first two years.

Description

No confusion is possible with another Espèce. The front-axle unit is powerful, the massive neck. The head (head) has an overall conical form. The sides are compressed. Peeling is made up long very rough earthenware jars (silks) as well as thick sleeping bag . The adults are of uniform color gray-brown, but young people are russet-red with horizontal black bands. The triangular ears are always drawn up. The canines are particularly developed. Those of the upper jaw bend to the top likings during the growth. The size of the males is more important than that of the females. Moreover, all things being equal, the subjects present in the south of Europe are smaller than those of north and the east.

Characteristics

Statute: commun run
Social life: in group the first two years
Length: from 90 to 180 cm
Tail: 30 cm
Height with the garrot: 55 to 110 cm
Weight: 50 to 350 kg
sexual Maturity: 8 to 10 months
Period of reproduction: no the period specifies
Gestation period: from 100 to 140 days
Carried: 1 to 12, (generally 1 to 4)
food Mode: Nipple S, Faîne S, Sweet chestnut S, growths, roots, worm S, Larva S, Mushroom, small Rodent S
Longevity: 27 years

Genetics

The domestic pig has 38 Chromosome S. the wild boar holds only 36 of them, following an ancestral fusion. Their common descent is fertile. The Hybride S of first generation have 37 chromosomes. Then they can have 36,37 or 38 chromosomes. Hybridization is frequent in the cattle-rearing areas of pigs in the open air or when the wild population was reconstituted by domestic females of pigs covered by a male wild boar. The Corsican wild boar is genetically very close to the domestic pig.

The wild boar was introduced by the Man out of his natural surface of distribution, of which in North America where it was sometimes crossed with various stocks of pigs. This still complexes its genetics, but also its legal trade description. In North America, where there does not exist normally in nature, certain commercial labels qualify its meat of " wild boar sauvage" whereas it is raised, and introduced.

Habitat

The wild boar affectionate particularly raised zones having water points. However it is relatively Ubiquiste and one can meet it in many other types of mediums. The Lande S are for example very favorable mediums provided that a shrubby layer even discontinuous approach one measures top. It avoids simply the great zones too with overdraft. It is present in many areas of Europe, part of the Denmark, Netherlands, of Italy, ex- Yugoslavia…) and of Asia, like in North Africa. It disappeared from the British Isles.

Ethology

The wild boar primarily night, sedentary and is attached to its territory. Important displacements individuals or groups are supposed to be induced by the lack of food or water, the disturbance (continuation by the Chien S, Chasse in beaten, building site, etc). The wild boars can thus, only or groups some, to traverse very important distances, to cross Fleuve S and roads, which causes many collisions ( Roadkill ), especially in period of hunting. Nevertheless, the individuals seem to seek to return on their territory as soon as possible. The wild boar, Omnivore consumes very many parts of a great number of Végétaux (Tubercule S, Fruit S of which the Gland S and Noix, Céréale S, etc), Champignon S (of which mushrooms with underground fructifications such as Truffe or Truffe of the stag, many animal (towards, Mollusque S, Insecte S and their Larve S, small Mammifère S, Lissamphibien S, Oiseau X and others Sauropside S) dead or alive. If it is famished, it is famous capacity occasionally to attack a larger animal dying, even with a ewe in good health, in particular at the time of the setting-low. It shows readily Nécrophage.

Regularly, the wild boars vautrent in mud in places called “ impressions ” or “wallows” , and rub with insistence against the trunks of neighbouring Arbre S, to get rid of a certain number of parasite S and to mark their territory.

The companies or herds of wild boars consist of one or more thin layers followed by their offspring. The Ragot S (wild boars from 2 to 3 years) close walk during displacements, but are replaced by older males in period of Rut. The processions are often noisy, not only by the heavy noise of the steps, but also by the growls, cries, soufflements and others reniflements. However, the wild boars can be discrete and quiet if they feel threatened.

With the approach of the man, the wild boar generally escapes before it was detected and can show itself surprisingly nimble and fast. A thin layer having a presentiment of a danger to its young wild boars , can be dangerous and charge, or attack a dog, just as a wounded adult. Irritated, a wild boar opera hat violently of the teeth; it is said whereas it “breaks hazel nut”.

The Rut is spread out October with February. During confrontations violent one between males, of the sometimes important wounds can be caused. The Gestation lasts 3 Mois, 3 Semaine S, 3 Jour S (that is to say 114 to 116 days), the thin layer puts low in the cauldron , (an excavation more or less arranged in the low vegetation) from 2 to 12 young wild boars with the open eyes. The number of small is correlated with the initial weight of the female (40kg: two small, 60kg: four small), but in the south of France the wild boar populations was recreated or reinforced by hybrids of domestic pig with an aim of increasing the prolificity. The Allaitement lasts 2 to 3 months, but the young people are ready to follow the mother in her displacements as of the end of their first week. Although able to provide for their own needs towards age the 6 months, they will still remain in the family group one or two Année S.

Ecology

The wild boar seems to play of the complex and important functions within the ecosystem S which he attends. It airs and décolmate the ground S foresters by seeking tubers and mushrooms, of which truffles and in particular the truffle Elaphomyces granulatus of which it contributes to diffuse the Spore S (with the squirrel and some digger Micromammifère S which also consume this mushroom whose fructification is completely underground). However this mushroom plays a probably important part in the structure of the grounds and as regards mycorhization.

When the wild boar digs its impression and is rolled there, and when it rubs on the trees, it gets rid of its Parasite S, but also contributes to disperse spores and hidden seeds decades ago even centuries, which for some preserved their germinatives properties ( “crypto-banks of seed of the ground” ). It can during its displacements, in a few hours, to transport them and literally the “to sow” until tens of kilometers to the round (a wild boar can traverse 20 to 30 km in only one night). These seeds and spores being surrounded of mud and being heated in contact with its body are likely more to germinate.

Where it is very abnormally abundant following disappearance of its Prédateur S savages and following the Agrainage (artificial recharge) or with hunt plans which strongly supported it, it seems to be able, with the Chevreuil to play a part in the increase in the number of Tique S in the European forests, and it causes damage in the fields, meadows and sometimes in the gardens.

Geographical distribution

The wild boar finds itself in many different areas. One distinguishes from many subspecies:

Sus scrofa affinis (India and Sri Lanka)
Sus scrofa will algira (Tunisia, Algérie, Morocco)
Sus scrofa andamanensis (Island of Andaman in India)
Sus scrofa Attila (Hungary, Ukraine, Central Bielorussia, the Caucasus, Iraq)
Sus scrofa baeticus (Balearic Islands, south of Spain and probably northern Morocco)
Sus scrofa barbarus (North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco)
Known scrofa castilianus (Northern of Spain)
Known scrofa chirodontus (China)
Known scrofa coreanus (Korea)
Known scrofa cristatus (Southern area the Himalayas: Nepal, northern Burma, India, Thailand)
Known scrofa davidi (Southern area the Himalayas: Iran, Pakistan, north-western India, Burma)
Known scrofa falzfeini (Poland)
Known scrofa set (Northern Europe)
Known scrofa floresianus (island of Flora in Indonesia)
Known scrofa jubatus (Malaysia)
Known scrofa leucomystax (China)
Known scrofa libycus (the Trans-Caucasus, Turkey, Palestine, Yugoslavia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan)
Known scrofa majori (central Italy).
Known scrofa mandchuricus (China)
Known scrofa mediterraneus (Spain)
Known scrofa meridionalis (Andalusia; Sardinia and Corsica)
Known scrofa moupinensis (costal zone of China of the south in Vietnam)
Known scrofa nicobaricus (island of Nicobar in India)
Known scrofa nigripes (Central Asia, Caspian Sea, Afghanistan, Mongolia, China, Are Russia)
Sus scrofa papuensis (New Guinea)
Sus scrofa raddeanus (Mongolia)
Sus scrofa reiseri (Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece)
Sus scrofa riukiuanus (Ryukyu Islands - Japan)
Sus scrofa sardous (Sardinia, Corsica)
Known scrofa scrofa (Northern Spain, Northern Italy, France, Allemangne, the Benelux countries, Denmark, Poland, Rép.Tchèque, Slovakia, Albania)
Known scrofa sennaarensis (Sudan)
Known scrofa sibiricus (Tunkinsk Mts, Sayan Mts, Sibera, Mongolia, Transbaikalia
Known scrofa sukvianus (China)
Known scrofa taivanus , Wild boar of Taiwan (Taiwan)
Known scrofa ussuricus , Wild boar of Mandchourie (Russia Eastern, Mandchourie, Korea, China of North)
Known scrofa vittatus , Wild boar of Asia (Malaysia: Peninsula, islands of Terutua and Langkawi; Indonesia: Sumatra, Archipèle de Riau, Java and island of Peucang, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and Komodo)

Medical aspects

The wild boar can also convey certain diseases of the pig, whose porcine Peste, and can be grippaux viruses of which that of the Avian flu.

A “overpopulation” of wild boars can thus increase certain risks for the close breedings of pigs, but also for the human health, of which Maladie of Lyme, Trichine, affection in which the increase is related to the number of wild boars, or an increase in the accident risk of the road, with important property damages, body and psychological wounds serious, even losses in human lives.

Omnivorous and Necrophagous with the fine Sense of smell, the wild boar detects and eliminates quickly the many corpses small ones and large animals, even hidden, by preventing that they contaminate surface waters by the pathogenic ones or toxins (botulinic in particular, to which it is shown very resistant). For this reason, it is a species which - although not located at the head food pyramid - strongly bioconcentrer some Toxique S can and Polluant S (via the corpses which he eats or contaminated mushrooms which he consumes in great quantity).

Myths and symbols

See also: Celtic Mythology, Symbolic system of the wild boar

The symbolism of wild boar is very rich at the Celtes but it is also present in a way generalized in the Indo-European myths: the Greece mycénienne, the vedic India, at the German letting imagine a common origin. It represents the force and courage but also Knowledge and with a relationship with the Au-delà. The Celte S regard it as a crowned animal. Wild boar heads decorate the weapons and its meat accompanies the late ones in their last voyage. Its role is to be brought closer to that of the Taureau in mythologies of the origins of Europe. The wild boar is thus the attribute of the Druide S and some were even made call “wild boar”. The European Moyen-âge took again this symbolic system in the Héraldique where the wild boar is very represented and also in the vocabulary of the Escrime (guard of the “tooth of wild boar”).

In the Indo-Europeans, the wild boar symbolizes in fact the sacerdotal caste while the bear corresponds to the warlike caste.

The fourth of the 12 Travaux of Hercules consists in paying living the Sanglier of Érymanthe.

In Chinese Astrology, the wild boar is regarded as a particularly auspicieux sign and a pledge of honesty.

The wild boar is the mascot and the symbol of the the Ardennes where it abounds.

In the Cartoon Astérix, the Gallic ones, in particular Obélix, adore to eat wild boar.

References

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