Will domestic pigs turn into wild boars after being released into the wild? Professional analysis of

Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) are domesticated from wild boars (Sus scrofa). Since the ancestors of domestic pigs are wild boars, people often wonder: If domestic pigs are released into the wild, will they turn back into wild boars? The answer is - After domestic pigs survive in the wild for a long enough time, they may indeed undergo "feralization" and gradually acquire characteristics similar to wild boars, but they will not completely turn back into original wild boars.

This article will analyze the domestic pig's domestication history, physiological changes, feralization process, survival adaptability and differences from real wild boars in detail.

1. Relationship between domestic pigs and wild boars

1.1 Origin of domestic pigs

Domestic pigs were domesticated from wild boars about 9,000 years ago by humans, mainly through selective breeding to make them more suitable for human breeding. Compared with wild boars, domestic pigs show the following characteristics:

• Larger or fatter (domestic pigs for meat are fatter than wild boars).

• Various skin colors (wild boars are usually brown or black, while domestic pigs may be pink, black and white, reddish brown, etc.).

• Tender temperament (domestic pigs are more easily managed by humans than wild boars).

• Hair is shorter and thinner (wild boars have dense and coarse hair, adapted to survival in the wild).

• Shorter snout and legs (wild boars have longer snouts, which makes it easier to find food in the wild).

Although domestic pigs have been domesticated for a long time, their genes are still very close to wild boars, which makes domestic pigs have the potential for wildness.

2. How will domestic pigs change after being released into the wild? ——The process of feralization

2.1 What is feralization?

Feralization refers to the process in which domestic animals gradually recover certain characteristics of their wild ancestors and adapt to the natural environment after living in the wild for a long time.

If domestic pigs are separated from human management and live in the wild for a long time, they will undergo a series of physiological and behavioral changes, making them closer to wild boars.

2.2 Physiological changes of domestic pigs during the process of wilding

Domestic pigs released into the wild will show the following changes after several generations:

1. Hair becomes longer and thicker:

• Domestic pigs usually have short hair, but after wilding, their hair will gradually become thicker and harder, showing black, brown or gray, similar to the protective hair of wild boars, to adapt to temperature changes in the wild.

2. More solid body, less fat:

• Due to the limited food in the wild, wild pigs need to move a lot to find food, so the fat is reduced, the muscles are more developed, and the body becomes more compact and solid, similar to the slender body of wild boars.

3. The snout and legs become longer:

• In order to adapt to foraging in the wild, the snout of wild pigs will gradually become longer, so that it is easier to dig the soil to find insects, roots and other food.

• Leg muscles are stronger, adapted to running fast and escaping predators.

4. Tusks become longer:

• Domestic pigs usually have short tusks, but after wilding, boars' tusks will continue to grow and become longer and sharper for fighting and defense.

5. Ears become upright:

• Many domestic pig breeds have drooping ears, while wild boars have upright ears. After wilding, the ears of pigs may gradually become more erect to improve hearing sensitivity.

2.3 Behavioral changes of domestic pigs during wilding

• Increased alertness: Wild pigs are more aggressive and alert than domestic pigs. They will actively avoid humans and quickly escape or fight back when threatened.

• Changes in social structure: Domestic pigs are usually raised in groups on farms, while wild pigs will form small family groups, similar to the social structure of wild boars.

• Food source changes: Wild pigs no longer rely on human feed, but feed on roots, insects, small animals, fruits and carrion, and their diet is more wild.

3. Can domestic pigs completely turn back into wild boars?

3.1 Still genetically different

Although domestic pigs will be close to wild boars in appearance and behavior after living in the wild for a few years, they cannot completely turn back into real wild boars, mainly because:

1. Domestic pigs' genes have undergone domestication selection, and even if some characteristics have been reversed, they are still somewhat different from wild boars.

2. Some domestic pigs are larger than wild boars, and some breeds (such as Duroc and Large White) are unlikely to fully return to the small size of wild boars even if they are wilded.

3. Different reproductive capacity and metabolic rate: Domestic pigs were selected to be more efficient breeders during domestication, and may still retain a high reproductive capacity after wilding, while real wild boars reproduce more slowly.

3.2 The difference between feral pigs and real wild boars

Fourth, FAQ

1. How long does it take for domestic pigs to start showing wild characteristics in the wild?

Generally speaking, domestic pigs will start showing wild characteristics after living in the wild for a few months, such as longer hair and increased alertness. If they can survive in the wild for a few years and reproduce the next generation, the wild characteristics will be more obvious, especially the changes in tusks and body shape.

2. Are feral pigs more dangerous than domestic pigs?

Yes. Feral pigs are more aggressive than domestic pigs, especially when they feel threatened. They become more sensitive and may attack humans or livestock. In addition, feral pigs sometimes hybridize with true wild boars, making them more difficult to domesticate.

3. Do feral pigs affect the ecosystem?

Yes, feral pigs may have a negative impact on the ecosystem, including:

• Crop damage: Feral pigs will enter farmland to forage, causing damage to agriculture.

• Affect native animals: Feral pigs will compete with wild boars for living resources and may spread diseases.

• Affect forest ecology: Excessive soil foraging may damage forest understory vegetation.

V. Conclusion: Domestic pigs can go wild, but they will not completely turn back into wild boars

If domestic pigs are released into the wild for a long time, they can indeed undergo significant wildness and become close to wild boars in appearance and behavior. However, because the genes of domestic pigs have undergone long-term domestication selection, they cannot completely turn back into original wild boars. Although wild domestic pigs can survive in the wild, their body shape, behavior and genetic characteristics are still different from those of real wild boars.

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