Masked wild boar (scientific name: Potamochoerus larvatus) is also known as Bushpig in English. There are 6 subspecies.
Masked wild boar is a resident animal and vigorously protects its territory. It is mainly active at night. This behavior is related to the ambient temperature, with more diurnal activity in the colder months. Resting in dense vegetation is common, and nesting may occur during the rainy season or cold periods. In addition, wallowing is a favorite activity. Interestingly, fruit-eating monkeys are often followed in the bushes to pick up fallen fruits for feeding. They are notorious for feeding on crops. Daily movement distances vary from 0.5-5 km.
The peccary is widespread and abundant throughout much of its range. This wild boar is highly adaptable and has been introduced to Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, where it is also thriving. In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi, the species is thought to cause more damage to agriculture than any other species. Additionally, members of the genus are considered vectors of livestock diseases and may be hosts or vectors of tick-borne diseases such as trichinosis, African swine fever, and trypanosomes. As a result, they are widely persecuted by farmers and targeted by wildlife control programs. Main natural enemies: humans, leopards, lions, spotted hyenas, and pythons.
The masked peccary is not considered threatened throughout most of its known range. In fact, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), there is evidence that conversion of former forests to secondary shrubs and agriculture has led to an increase in its numbers in some areas. Attempts to control or eradicate the masked peccary in these areas have generally proven unsuccessful.
Listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2015 ver 3.1 - Least Concern (LC).
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