Indian Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa Cristatus)

Sinhalese: Wal-ura.

Tamil: Kadu-pandi.

Description: A large adult male can grow to the height of almost 90 cm at the shoulder, considerably bigger than a female which is about 60 cm. The hair is very coarse and except for the mane along the spine of the older males, is rather sparse. “Tushes” of, perhaps, 18-20 cm are also found on old boars. The young are browner and have longitudinal stripes.

Distribution: Found throughout the island wherever they can hold their own against the advances of man. In some locations it is an agricultural pest and is not therefore a protected animal.

Habits: The females and young live in family parties, known as “sounders”, but the old boars are usually solitary or form small bachelor groups. They love marshy areas where they can wallow in the mud or root around searching for tubers etc. with much grunting and squealing. The wild boar is mainly vegetarian, but occasionally feeds on carrion, insects, snakes, ground birds, turtle’s egg etc. Their main enemy, apart from man, is the leopard, but an old boar can give a very good account of himself, and the leopard usually leaves him alone. Their sense of smell and hearing are excellent but their eye-sight is not so acute.

Breeding: The gestation period lasts for about 4 months and usually 4-6 young are born. They are said to breed at least twice a year, and the female makes a ‘nest’ of heaped up dead grasses in a sheltered place.