Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Suidae
- Genus
- Sus
- Species
- Sus barbatus
Habitat
This subspecies primarily inhabits lowland and hill forests, swamps, and riverine areas in western Borneo, Indonesia and Malaysia. They prefer dense vegetation for cover and are often found in secondary forests or near agricultural edges, avoiding open areas.
Diet
Western Bornean bearded pigs are omnivorous, feeding on fruits, roots, tubers, invertebrates like earthworms and insects, and occasionally small vertebrates. They exhibit rooting behavior to forage for food, often active during dawn and dusk, which helps them access underground items efficiently.
Behavior
These pigs are social, living in groups of 5-20 individuals led by a dominant male, and they communicate through grunts and squeals. They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, spending the day resting in dense cover, and display territorial behavior by marking areas with scent glands. Notable behaviors include extensive rooting that aerates the soil and their ability to swim across rivers.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Vulnerable, with populations declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and hunting for bushmeat. Major threats include fragmentation of forests and human encroachment.