The Central European boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) is a subspecies of Wild boar.
The Central European boar is a medium-sized, dark to rusty-brown-haired subspecies with long and relatively narrow lacrimal bones. Like other Wild boars, this subspecies is a bulky, massively built suid with short and relatively thin legs. The trunk is short and robust, while the hindquarters are comparatively underdeveloped. The region behind the shoulder blades rises into a hump and the neck is short and thick to the point of being nearly immobile. The animal's head is very large, taking up to one-third of the body's entire length. The structure of the head is well-suited for digging. The head acts as a plough, while the powerful neck muscles allow the animal to upturn considerable amounts of soil. The eyes are small and deep-set and the ears long and broad. The species has well-developed canine teeth, which protrude from the mouths of adult males. The medial hooves are larger and more elongated than the lateral ones and are capable of quick movements.
Central European boars are currently distributed across almost all of mainland Europe, with the exception of some northern areas in both Scandinavia and European Russia and the southernmost parts of Greece. Boars inhabit deciduous and mixed forests and especially favor forests composed of oak and beech enclosing marshes and meadows. They may also occur in steppes, shrubland, and farmland. Wild boars require a habitat fulfilling three conditions: heavily brushed areas providing shelter from predators, water for drinking and bathing purposes, and an absence of regular snowfall.
Little is known about the behavior of Central European boars. Generally, Wild boars are social animals; they live in female-dominated sounders consisting of barren sows (females) and mothers with young led by an old matriarch. Male boars leave their sounder at the age of 8-15 months, while females either remain with their mothers or establish new territories nearby. Subadult males may live in loosely knit groups, while adult and elderly males tend to be solitary outside the breeding season. Wild boars are active at night. During the daylight hours, they typically rest in shelters made of spruce branches and dry hay. These resting places are occupied by whole families (though males lie separately) and are often located in the vicinity of streams, in swamp forests, and in tall grass or shrub thickets. Boars never defecate in their shelters and will cover themselves with soil and pine needles when irritated by insects. These animals have a very well developed sense of smell and acute hearing. They are capable of digging 8-10 cm (3.1-3.9 in) into frozen ground and can upturn rocks weighing 40-50 kg (88-110 lb). Wild boars are also very fast. They can run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) and jump at a height of 140-150 cm (55-59 in). Wild boars produce a number of different sounds which are divided into three categories: contact calls. Alarm calls and combat calls. Contact calls are grunting noises and differ in intensity according to the situation. Adult males are usually silent, while females frequently grunt and piglets whine. When feeding, boars express their contentment through purring. Alarm calls are warning cries emitted in response to threats. When frightened, boars make loud huffing ‘ukh! ukh!’ sounds or emit screeches transcribed as ‘gu-gu-gu’. Combat calls are high-pitched, piercing cries.
Wild boars are omnivores. Their diet includes roots, tubers and bulbs, nuts, berries, seeds, leaves, bark, twigs, and shoots, along with garbage. They also eat earthworms, insects, mollusks, fish, rodents, bird eggs, lizards, snakes, frogs, and carrion.
Little information is known about the reproductive habits of the Central European boar. Generally, Wild boars are polygynous and don’t form pairs. In most areas, breeding lasts from November to January, though most mating only lasts a month and a half. Once ready to reproduce, males travel long distances in search of a sounder of sows, eating little on the way. Once a sounder has been located, the male drives off all young animals and persistently chases the females. At this point, the male fiercely fights potential rivals. A single male can mate with 5-10 females. The gestation period varies according to the age of the expecting mother. For first-time breeders, it lasts 114-130 days, while it lasts 133-140 days in older females. Farrowing occurs between March and May, with litter sizes depending on the age and nutrition of the mother. The average litter consists of 4-6 piglets, with the maximum being 10-12. The piglets are whelped in a nest constructed from twigs, grasses, and leaves. If the mother dies prematurely, the piglets are adopted by the other sows in the sounder. Newborn piglets lack underfur and bear a single milk incisor and canine on each half of the jaw. The piglets do not leave the lair for their first week of life. Should the mother be absent, the piglets lie closely pressed to each other. By 2 weeks of age, the piglets begin accompanying their mother on her journeys. If danger is detected, the piglets take cover or stand immobile, relying on their camouflage to keep them hidden. Although the lactation period lasts 2.5-3.5 months, the piglets begin displaying adult feeding behaviors at the age of 2-3 weeks. Young females become reproductively mature at the age of one year, with males attaining it a year later. However, females usually breed for the first time after 2 years, while males begin participating in the rut after 4-5 years, as they are not permitted to mate by the older males.
The population of Wild boars as a whole is not currently facing any serious threats. However, various localized concerns negatively affect populations of this species. In many parts of their range, these animals heavily suffer from the destruction of their natural habitat. They are also threatened by large-scale hunting for consumption, sport, and pests (especially near human settlements). And finally, these animals are exposed to different contagious diseases, resulting in high numbers of mortality.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of Central European boar total population size. According to IUCN Red List, Wild boars are abundant and widespread throughout their range.
Wild boars tend to affect negatively the ecosystem they live in. When they invade new areas, they adapt to the new area by trampling and rooting, as well as displacing many saplings/nutrients. This causes a decrease in growing of many plants and trees. Water is also affected negatively by Wild boars. When boars are active in streams or small pools of water, they cause increased turbidity (excessive silt and particle suspension). Aquatic wildlife is affected, more prominently fish, and amphibians. Wild boars have caused a great decrease in over 300 animal or plant species, with 250 being endangered or threatened. When these boars compete with other species for resources, they usually come out successful.
