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The wild boar (sow) is a relative of the pig and is native to Eurasia and North America. With the help of humans, the species now has a range all over the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Wild boars and their pig brothers can reach gigantic proportions. Domestic pigs have the luxury of being protected from predators, and are usually kept in small spaces, so they often grow larger than wild boars. Wild boars are attacked by tigers, lions, wolves and other large carnivores, which means that most individuals do not live to be old enough to reach enormous size. Even when they don’t become prey, wild boars are always on the move, hunting and foraging, which reduces their weight.
That said, some huge wild boars have been recorded in recent years, and larger ones can still roam the depths of virgin forests around the world.
Jamison Stone and the biggest wild boar ever
The largest wild boar ever recorded was shot in Alabama in 2007 and weighed 1,051 pounds!
In 2007, an 11-year-old boy from Alabama made history of pig hunting. Jamison Stone, who had been hunting since the age of 5, took down a monster hog with eight shots from his .50-caliber revolver. Using truck scales at the local co-op, the boy and his father in the wild boar weighed 1051 pounds and over 9 feet tall. They estimate that more than 500 pounds of sausage could be produced from the animal.
The boar’s head was 54 inches around, with a length of 11 inches from the tip of the snout to its eyes. Shoulder circumference measured in at 74 inches. That’s a big bear! Like many hunting feats, there is controversy surrounding this pig’s weight and claims that photos of the wild boar have been digitally altered. In addition, there are later reports that the wild boar was domesticated until shortly before it was shot. With controversy surrounding this wild boar, let’s take a look at some other large boars that could one day compete for the title of “big wild boar”.
Hogzilla: a mystery from Georgia
In 2004, claims of a 1,000-pound, 12-foot-long beast surfaced on the internet. Chris Griffin of South Georgia only had one blurry photo of Hogzilla as evidence, so the claims were often dismissed as fake.
More than six months later, experts from National Geographic arrived to exhume the body and investigate the claims. They were able to judge that Hogzilla was at least 800 pounds and about 8 feet tall. Not as impressive as previously thought, but still a cumbersome beast. Hogzilla held a record for the longest tusks of a North American wild boar: one had grown to nearly six inches in length.
A record in California
One of the heaviest wild boars (with reliable confirmation) was shot in California near Fort Bragg. With just one shot, Joe Orth took down a 733-pound pig that beat the old California record by more than 100 pounds. The head and shoulders were preserved by a taxidermist, but more than 200 pounds of the wild boar could be turned into bratwurst and meat patties.
Largest subspecies of wild boars
There are 16 recognized subspecies of wild boar. Let’s take a look at some of the largest wild boar subspecies.
Ussuri boar
The Ussuri Boar (s.s. ussurian) is considered the largest of the wild boars. The subspecies Ussuri is found in eastern China and parts of Russia, including Ussuri Bay and Amur Bay. Adult males are often found over 500 pounds with some individuals weighing even more. The weight of a Ussuri boar (or any wild boar for that matter) will vary wildly depending on environmental factors such as the availability of food and water.
carpathian boar
The Carpathian Boar (s.s. attila) is a large boar subspecies found in Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and nearby areas. The average Carpathian hog weighs over 300 pounds with some individuals reaching massive sizes in excess of 800 pounds when food is plentiful. This subspecies generally has dark hair and longer lacrimal bones (eye sockets).
Central Asian Boar
The Middle Asian Boar (s.s. nigripes) is another large subspecies found around Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and nearby countries. As with other species, a Central Asian boar’s maximum weight fluctuates wildly depending on habitat and resource availability. Many people were found to weigh more than 500 pounds. The Middle Asian boar has a lighter coat than many other related subspecies – much closer to light gray than the usual dark brown or black.
Wild boar terminology
When speaking between wildlife professionals and hunters, wild boars are usually referred to by special terms based on their age. The giant boars mentioned above are called “Grand Old Boars”, denoting a wild boar that is older than 7 years. A “Pig of the Sounder” is a wild boar over 2 years old. “Juveniles” are 1 to 2 years old, and a “squeaker” is a newborn piglet.
Are wild boars the largest pig species?
While wild boars can grow to epic proportions, they’re no match for their domestic pig cousins. Big Bill, a pig living on a farm in Jackson, Tennessee, weighed 2,552 pounds in 1933. That is more than double the weight of the heaviest recorded wild boars! He was supposed to be on display at the Chicago World Fair, but unfortunately the pig broke a leg and had to be euthanized.
Domestic pigs usually have access to unlimited food, as well as protection from predators and harsh weather, making it easier for them to reach the gargantuan proportions that all pigs are capable of.
The giant wild boar
The giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhagenic) is on average seen as the largest pig species. While domestic pigs and wild boars have individuals that grow to enormous sizes, these Giant Forest Hogs are larger on average. They can weigh anywhere from 200 to 600 pounds, with larger specimens reaching nearly 4 feet in length. The species is found in the forests and woodlands of Africa. They are known for their aggressive behavior which is probably why the species was never domesticated in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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