Celebes warty pig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sulawesi warty pig |
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Sus
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celebensis
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Verrucophorus celebensis |
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The Sulawesi warty pig (Sus celebensis), also known as the Celebes warty pig, is a type of wild pig. It lives on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. These pigs can survive in many different places, even high up in mountains, as tall as 2,500 m (8,000 ft). People have also tamed and moved these pigs to other Indonesian islands.
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What Does the Sulawesi Warty Pig Look Like?
The Sulawesi warty pig is a medium-sized pig. Its size and looks can vary quite a bit. It is the only pig species, besides the wild boar, that has been tamed by humans. Being partly domesticated might be why they look so different from each other.
These pigs are about 80 and 130 cm (30 and 50 in) long from head to body. They also have a long tail. Male pigs are usually bigger than females. They have a rounded back and short legs. Their fur is usually greyish-black. Sometimes, it has hints of red or yellow on their sides.
A cool feature is their face. They have three pairs of "warts" on their face. These are actually bumps of skin. They also have light-colored bristles (stiff hairs) around their snout and on their cheeks. A short crest of dark bristles runs along the top of their head and neck. A dark stripe goes down their back towards their tufted tail. Young piglets have stripes when they are born, but these stripes disappear as they grow up.
Where Do Sulawesi Warty Pigs Live?
Sulawesi warty pigs live on the island of Sulawesi. They are common in the central, eastern, and southeastern parts of the island. However, they are not as common in the northeast and south.
They also live naturally on smaller islands nearby. These include Buton, Muna, Kabeana, Peleng, Lembeh, and the Togian Islands. People have also brought them to other islands where they have been tamed. Sometimes, these pigs mix with other wild pigs, like Sus scrofa. This has created new groups of pigs in some areas.
These pigs can live in many different places. They are found in rainforests, swamps, farmlands, and grasslands. They can live at high altitudes, up to 2,500 m (8,000 ft) above sea level.
How Do Sulawesi Warty Pigs Live?
Sulawesi warty pigs usually travel in small groups. These groups can have up to nine pigs. A strong male pig leads the group. The group also includes several females and their young.
They mostly look for food in the early morning and evening. Their diet includes many things. They eat roots, young shoots, leaves, and fallen fruit. But they also eat dead animals, small bugs (invertebrates), and small animals with backbones (vertebrates).
These pigs can have babies all year round. A mother pig is pregnant for about four to five months. They can have up to eight piglets in one litter. However, studies show they usually have about two piglets at a time. The main animal that hunts these pigs is the reticulated python, a very large snake.
Why Are Sulawesi Warty Pigs "Near Threatened"?
The Sulawesi warty pig faces several dangers. The biggest threats are the growing number of people and the cutting down of forests. Forests are being cleared to make space for farms. People also hunt these pigs for food.
Even in places like national parks, where the pigs are supposed to be safe, hunting still happens. The meat is sold in local markets. This over-hunting and the loss of their homes (habitat) are big problems. Because of these threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Sulawesi warty pig as "near threatened". This means they could become endangered if things don't change.
Ancient Cave Art of the Sulawesi Warty Pig
Did you know that a very old cave painting of a Sulawesi warty pig was found? It was discovered in the Leang Tedongnge cave on Sulawesi. Scientists have figured out that this painting is at least 45,500 years old! This makes it the oldest known painting of an animal in the world.
The painting was made using red ochre, a natural earth pigment. To find its age, scientists looked at a layer of calcite (a mineral) that had formed over the painting. They used a special method called uranium-series isotope dating. This method helps them find the minimum age of the painting.
Next to the pig painting, there are images of human hands. These were made by blowing ochre around someone's hands placed on the cave wall. The painting shows a male pig, and you can clearly see its facial warts. People from the Western world first saw this amazing artwork in 2017.
