Western Bearded Pig

About the Western Bearded Pig

The Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus), also known as the Sunda bearded pig or simply bearded pig, is a species in the pig genus, Sus. It can be recognized by its prominent beard. It also sometimes has tassels on its tail. It is found in Southeast Asia—Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and various smaller islands like in Sulu archipelago such as Tawi-Tawi, where it inhabits rainforests and mangrove forests. The bearded pig lives in a family. It can reproduce from the age of 18 months, and can be cross-bred with other species in the family Suidae.

Potential predators of Bornean bearded pigs in East Kalimantan include reticulated pythons. The species is also frequently hunted by the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, and Rungus people of northern Borneo as a traditional delicacy known as the sinalau bakas (smoked wild boar meat) which is part of the pusas (snack food), sold along the main Pan Borneo Highway roads in some parts of Sabah.

The two subspecies of this pig are: S. b. barbatus (the nominate subspecies) S. b. oi (western bearded pig) As traditionally defined, the nominate is from Borneo. The species is widely ranging in Borneo. It is also found in Tawi-Tawi... Wikipedia →