Pigs

Introduction:
A typical pig has a large head with a long snout for a nose, tiny eyes, and a small tail, which may be curly, kinked, or straight. It has a thick body and short legs, with four toes on each foot; the two large middle toes are used for walking. Hair varies from very bristly to practically hairless to curly woolly coats. Colours vary too, from white or black solid and many colours in between, to rust coloured with white and black highlights.

Location:
The five genera and nine species live on every continent except Antarctica. Wild pigs roam forests, meadows, and swamps.

Size:
Pigs come in all sizes from the small pygmy hog measuring 1 ft (30 cm) tall at the shoulder and 13 lbs (6 kg), to the giant forest hog measuring 3.5 ft (1 m) tall at the shoulder and 300 lbs (136 kg).

Food:
Pigs consume fungi, roots, bulbs, tubers, fruit, snails, earthworms, reptiles, young birds, eggs, and small rodents. Domestic pigs will scavenge and have been known to eat any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, tree bark, rotting carcasses, excreta (including their own), and garbage. However, in the wild, they are foraging animals, primarily eating leaves and grasses, roots, fruits and flowers.

Life Cycle:
A female pig can become pregnant at around 8 - 18 months of age. She will then go into heat every 21 days. Male pigs become sexually active at 8 - 10 months of age. A litter of piglets typically contains between 2 - 12 piglets. Average lifespan in the wild is 15 - 20 years but may be up to 27 years.

Interesting Facts:
· Pigs are native to Eurasia - they were introduced into North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii.
· They are very intelligent.
· Pigs have a full set of 44 teeth.
· Because of their foraging abilities and excellent sense of smell, they are used to find truffles in many European countries.
· During hot weather, pigs cool themselves using water or mud because they do not have functional sweat glands. They also use mud as a form of sunscreen to protect their skin from sunburn, and to provide protection against flies and parasites.
· Pigs have existed for at least 45 million years.
· They are surefooted and rapid runners, and good swimmers.

Population:
The pygmy hog is classified as endangered with only 100 - 150 individuals living in Assam. The Javan pig was thought to be extinct until a few were found. Many more species are classified as vulnerable due to habitat destruction and excessive human hunting. Even some of the domestic breeds are in danger of disappearing. Among these are the Berkshire Pig of Britain, the Gloucester Old Spot Pig (rare), the Guinea Hog of Africa (rare), Large Black Pig (critically rare), Mulefooted Hog (American and toes are fused to form a foot like a mule, very rare), Ossabaw Island Hog (feral pigs off the coast of Georgia), Poland China Pig (American), and the Tamworth Pig, one of the oldest breeds known (Britain and only distantly related to modern breeds).

Help Protect Their Environment:
· Learn. The more you know about them, the more you can tell other people. Education and knowledge are the most important tools!
· Help preserve and encourage the protection of forests, meadows and swamps, where wild pigs roam.