Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wild Pigs and Peccaries

Chapter 14: Visayan warty pig Sus cebifrons (Heude, 1888)

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Visayan warty pigs occurred mainly in primary and second-
ary forest up to 1600 m a.s.l. However, due to large habitat loss in
the last decades, today the species is confined to the last remain-
ing forest patches above 800 m (Rabor 1977; Figure 14.4). There
are records of some individuals living in dense cover of degraded
habitats, but these observations are not confirmed for the pos-
sibility of confusion with feral pigs or hybrids between Visayan
warty pig and domesticated pigs.

Movements and Home Range

There is no information about the movements and home range
of this species. A camera trapping study was undertaken by
EDGE in the North Negros Natural Park until 2012, but no data
resulted that could clarify ranging patterns in Visayan warty
pigs. Considering the Critically Endangered conservation status
of the species, it is surprising how poorly it is studied in the wild.
Almost nothing is known about its behaviour in forest habitats,
and ecological studies are urgently needed to understand key
ecological requirements and inform species management.

Activity Patterns

As mentioned above, the species is poorly studied and little is
known about its activity patterns. Camera traps from the Negros
Interior Biodiversity Expedition in 2012 remain unpublished,
so not even predominantly nocturnal or diurnal activity pat-
terns can be inferred. Similar to other Sus species, though, the
Visayan warty pig is likely to be active during daylight in undis-
turbed areas, assuming these still exist in the species’ range,
while in areas where it is heavily hunted it is likely to be mainly
active at night. In cultivated areas close to the forest edge it may
raid crops (Oliver et al. 1993).

Feeding Ecology

Like many other Sus species, Visayan warty pigs are omnivo-
rous, feeding on a wide range of plants and animals. There are no
direct observations on feeding behaviour, but it seems that the

species feeds on plants such as Lithocarpus (Fagaceae), Platea

excelsa (Icainaceae), Colocasia sp. and Dillenia reifferscheidia

(Dilleniaceae) seeds and other parts of which are found in its

scats (Hamann & Curio 1999; Lastica 2003). This pig can also

function as a seed disperser for some plants, although many

larger seeds are likely crushed during feeding. It has been sug-

gested that Visayan warty pigs may be the sole seed disperser of

some forest plants, including Lithocarpus and Dillenia, which

would suggest that such plant species could be threatened with

extinction in areas where pigs no longer disperse their seeds.

Other vegetation recorded in the Visayan warty pig’s diet include

vines, palms, wild bananas, and crops such as taro and avocados.

Individuals of this species kept in captivity eat a wide range of

plants, fruits, and cereals and consume small vertebrates includ-

ing rats and mice.

Reproduction and Growth

Reproduction is poorly known and the scarce information

comes from observations in captivity (Huffman 2010). The ges-

tation period for S. cebifrons is approximately 118 days (Lastica

2003). One or two weeks prior to giving birth, females begin

showing nesting behaviour. Females collect vegetable mat-

ter such as grass for nesting prior to farrowing. They become

aggressive towards other individuals and they protect their pig-

lets from any predator (Oliver et al. 1993). Similar behaviour is

also observed in other wild pig species.

On average, litter size is between two and four piglets, and

these observations are similar in captivity as in the wild (Oliver

et al. 1993). Lastica (2003) also suggests average litter sizes of

two to three piglets, while in a North American review six of

10 captive litters also contained three offspring, with the other

four litters containing two and four offspring each (ISIS 2005).

In Europe in the years 2004–2015 there were 141 captive lit-

ters recorded with an average litter size of 2.4 piglets (for more

info see Table 14.1; source: Visayan warty pig EEP SPARKS data

set). In 2005, two breeding centres in the Philippines recorded

litters of five offspring, and recently there were records of five

Figure 14.4 Typical lowland Visayan

warty pigs’ habitats have now been

replaced by agricultural lands and

sugar cane plantations, such as here

around the North Negros Natural

Park, where forests only remain on the

higher hills and mountains (photo by

Erik Meijaard).

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