When migrant settlers came, these animals destroyed their crops. In response, the farmer settlers devised “pig bombs” made of ping-pong balls with gunpowder in it. The bombs were buried under the soil near cassava stands. As a result, this decimated large numbers of these feral mammals. The population of these once abundant mammals gradually declined.

Photo by P. A. Regoniel

Locals sometimes try to domesticate the wild bearded pig as this photo reveals.

Physical Characteristics

The bearded pigs look like ordinary pigs except that it has a greatly elongated snout and long canines. It appears “bearded” because it has very large coarse hairs forming a white band around the middle snout. Thick growths of black hair form the mane impressing a wild look. The ears stand small with black, fine hair at the tip and almost bare at the base. Body hairs are generally blackish.

Habitat

Bearded pigs usually inhabit primary and secondary forests or the bushes. Largely nocturnal in its habits, the bearded pigs are difficult to notice unless disturbed.

Food

Before cassava and other rootcrops, corn and sweet potato had become their favorite food source, the wild pigs fed on fruits of wild figs and other trees found in the forest.

Threats

Migrant settlers cultivating cassava, corn, sweet potato and even rice find themselves competing with the wild pigs in harvesting their crops. The pigs will have to be shooed away from the plantations to prevent destruction from their burrowing and feeding activities.

Some, however, could not find the time to regularly monitor their farm lots such that “pig bombs” became a common resort. Farmers slit up ping-pong balls, load then seal gunpowder in it. The bombs were buried under the soil near stands of crops in most likely places where the wild pigs will burrow.

In mid1990s, in the rural areas of Palawan, occasional explosions can be heard signaling a wild pig has been killed. A few hours later, a man passes by the community selling wild pig meat. This greatly decimated large numbers of these feral animals.

Ecological Status

Known locally in Palawan, Philippines as “baboy damo”, the bearded pig is endemic and common.