Oversized Giant Forest Hogs In the C.A.R.

[Sarus Crane]

So I found this article several months ago, but I thought it might generate some interest. I was amazed because if this is indeed true, then that would make the Central African Giant Forest Hog (H. m. rimator) larger than the East African subspecies (H. m. meinertzhageni). The specimen is destined for the Harber Wildlife Museum in Sherman, Texas where it will be displayed as a full life-sized mount. One can only imagine how much progeny this big boar left behind! Also, why can't zoos import these into their collections? Given that they are the largest living suid, as well as a great ambassador species for the Aberdares & Congo I think that they would make a fantastic exhibit, especially for zoos in the southeastern US. Also, they are classified as "Least Concern" under the IUCN Red List as an added bonus.

 

[Chlidonias]

It's a big pig, but despite the "this is not a trick photo" of the article it is still relying on perspective to make the animal appear larger. Apart for the pig being strongly in the foreground, none of those African guys are tall, and the 80-year-old white guy is clearly very short and hunched.

 

[Sarus Crane]

It's a big pig, but despite the "this is not a trick photo" of the article it is still relying on perspective to make the animal appear larger. Apart for the pig being strongly in the foreground, none of those African guys are tall, and the 80-year-old white guy is clearly very short and hunched.

I totally agree with you on that! Have you ever seen a wild Giant Forest Hog? I've only seen them in museums (New York, Chicago, London). Why aren't they being held in captivity?

 

[Coelacanth18]

Also, why can't zoos import these into their collections? Given that they are the largest living suid, as well as a great ambassador species for the Aberdares & Congo I think that they would make a fantastic exhibit, especially for zoos in the southeastern US. Also, they are classified as "Least Concern" under the IUCN Red List as an added bonus.

US zoos already have an ambassador wild pig from African forests: the red river hog, which is very recognizable, has a large robust captive population and established husbandry knowledge.

Importing animals is not often an easy process, even when they are not threatened. I imagine for wild pigs it would be especially difficult, since they could transfer pathogens to our domestic pigs or even to humans (remember swine flu?). When RRHs are already growing past their demand, it's not really necessary to import these into the country. I agree that it's an impressive animal, though.

 

[Pertinax]

It's a big pig, but despite the "this is not a trick photo" of the article it is still relying on perspective to make the animal appear larger. Apart for the pig being strongly in the foreground, none of those African guys are tall, and the 80-year-old white guy is clearly very short and hunched.

This is a fairy common trick in 'trophy shots' isn't it. Place the animal well in the foreground, several feet it looks in this case and then kneel or crouch to look smaller well behind it. The arrows are perhaps more indicative as a scale of its true size.

 

[Chlidonias]

The arrows are perhaps more indicative as a scale of its true size.

Yes, I tried finding out yesterday how long bow-hunting arrows are, but it seems that they differ in length (i.e. according to the arm-length of the hunter) so that didn't really help. Given the age and height of the hunter there, I'd imagine they are on the shorter side of things.

 

[Kakapo]

Just googling "Giant Forest Hog" gives you tons of images of hunted specimens that apparently are even bigger than the one of this photo, compared with the persons behind.