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SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND HUSBANDRY GUIDELINES Species Description: Common Name: European Wild Boar Taxonomic Name: Sus scrofa Legal
Status:
Vulnerable according to IUCN. No
special status according to CITES. Reintroduction
programs in Habitat:
Found in a wide variety of habitats as a result of domestication and
introduction to new areas. Typically
found in moist forests and shrublands, especially oak forests and areas where
reeds area abundant. Habits: Wild pigs are generally active at dusk, dawn and at night, and may travel 2-15 km within an area of 20-150 hectares. Their diet includes fungi, tubers and bulbs, vegetation, grains and nuts, fruit, eggs, small vertebrates, invertebrates and carrion. They form “sounders” or herds consisting of 20 individuals on average. These are generally several older females with young offspring. Males are solitary. Physical
Characteristics : Weight:
Newborn: 500-1,500g Color:
Body is usually covered with stiff bristles and usually some finer fur
ranging from dark gray to brown or black.
Many individuals have side whiskers and a mane on the nape. Other:
They are strong swimmers, have an excellent sense of smell, are
intelligent and vocalize by squealing or grunting.
Females have 6 pairs of mammae. Lifespan
is about 10 years in the wild, although the record is about 27 years. Husbandry Housing
Requirements: Facility perimeter/barriers
Height: Minimum of 5
feet (1.5m) Indoor/holding facilities Daily
Care and Maintenance: Water delivery/placement:
Standard livestock tanks, automatically refilling livestock drinkers,
etc. situated in such a manner as to minimize contamination of water sources,
as animals may attempt to climb into or defecate into drinkers. Food delivery/placement:
Ground feeders, stock troughs. Feeders
should have smooth surfaces. Multiple
feeding stations are recommended to prevent food-related aggression.
Areas around feeders should be kept clean to prevent excess ingestion
of dirt.
Appearance of normal feces:
Greenish-brown, pelleted to slightly clumped. Hooftrim requirements:
Will vary depending on activity level and individual.
Trim as needed during chemical immobilizations.
Hooftrims have been infrequent. Weight Measurement:
Bar scales with platform on top, at the end of a corridor.
Animals are moved to the platform using a secure push board/door or
using food incentives. Weights are
also taken when a specimen has been crated and/or immobilized. Recommended social
groupings: Several adult
females with female offspring, and male offspring no older than 8-10 months.
An adult male can be introduced if the female(s) seem(s) receptive.
However, the adult male needs to be separated from female group if one
of the females is suspected to be pregnant. Behavior: The snout is used as a plow to move soil and uproot vegetation. The tusks are sometimes used to mark trees. Enrichment items can be used to lessen rooting behavior. Sexual Maturity:
For both sexes is 8-10 months, however, females generally do not mate
until 18 months of age. Males
usually are not able to compete for mating privileges until they reach full
size at approximately 5 years. Gestation:
105-125 days Breeding
behavior:
Breeding season is dependant on regional climate.
In warmer climates, females can have several litters per year.
Females have an estrus cycle of 21 days, are receptive for 2-3 days and
generally produce one litter annually. Parturition:
Signs of: Increased girth,
enlarged udder, distended vulva, pacing and restlessness. Female
behavior:
Nesting behavior will increase a few days before birth.
Will be come less tolerant of conspecifics. Birth
of young:
Usually 4-8 per litter. Young
are born with light-colored longitudinal stripes which fade and disappear
between 4-6 months. Weaned after
3-4 months. Neonatal
care preparations: Dam’s preparations: Provide
sow with as much space as possible. Provide
various types of nesting material in adequate quantities to accommodate
nesting behavior. Pine shavings or
similar materials should be avoided, as they may clump onto neonates and their
mucus membranes. Recommended keeper preparations:
Installation of “creep” (area only accessible to youngest
offspring) or other method to enable young to investigate and eat solid food
undisturbed by adults or older siblings. Create
low-stress environment, monitoring behavior of adults closely after
parturition; it is not uncommon
for the dam to cannibalize her young. See attached diet sheets.
Folivore biscuits and diced vegetables are eaten readily and can be
used to reinforce behavior or to facilitate administering medication(s). Medical Concerns/Problems: Ivermectin is given, as per veterinary instructions, to
reduce internal parasite load. Litterguard
has been given to pregnant females, as per veterinary instructions, to
vaccinate against E. coli in order to have antibodies passed on to offspring
through colostrum. An exam is
performed at about two months of age to draw blood, insert a microchip for
identification purposes, weigh and check general health.
The animal is then returned to its mother as soon as possible. Transportation and handling Level of handling depends on amount of conditioning and
desensitization animal has been exposed to, as well as animal’s temperament.
Otherwise chemical immobilization is recommended. Animals
can be transported in appropriate, well-ventilated crates or in livestock
trailers with adequate bedding.
Guidelines provided by San Diego Zoo |
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