Mammals
Bushpig
Potamochoerus larvatus · also called bush pig
After dark at the edge of an African maize field, a shaggy bushpig with a pale crest slips from the thicket to feed, always alert for the leopard that hunts it.
Overview
The bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a Least Concern wild pig of the forests, thickets, and savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Its shaggy coat, nocturnal habits, and appetite for crops make it one of the most familiar and most disliked wild pigs for African farmers.
A night-time forager
The bushpig spends the day hidden in thick cover and comes out after dark to root and raid, which makes it hard to see and hard to control.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Bushpig: common questions
What does the bushpig look like?
It has a dark, shaggy coat with a crest of pale hair running along its back.
Is the bushpig a crop pest?
Yes, it raids maize, potatoes, and other crops, and is regarded as a pest by farmers.
Which predators hunt the bushpig?
It is an important prey animal for leopards and other large predators.
Where is the bushpig found?
It lives in forest, thicket, and savanna across eastern and southern Africa, and has been introduced to Madagascar.