IF YOU’VE WATCHED DISNEY’S THE LION King, you’ll be very familiar with a loveable animated warthog called Pumbaa. Warthogs are grazers that live in woodlands, open bushlands and savanna grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa. They play a vital role in the ecosystem, promoting plant growth by aerating the soil with their snouts while they look for food. These members of the pig family Suidae are also important prey for African carnivores, including leopards, hyenas, lions and wild dogs.
Why are they called warthogs?
The warthog can be easily recognised by its distinctive features, including two pairs of tusks, a large head, stocky body, rough mane, and long tail with a tuft of hair at the end. Its common name, though, comes from the prominent, wart-like bumps on its face. Males have…