Amazing facts about the wild boars

Wild boar - one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. And one of the most deadly. In the ranking of the danger he overtakes shark. The exact number of wild boar can not be determined. Only in the United States the figure is between 4 and 8 million individuals.





Forest giant

The average length of the body of the wild boar is 175 centimeters, the height at the withers - up to one meter. Weight adult usually does not exceed 200 kilograms. But not so long ago in one of the national parks in Uganda, scientists have discovered "Giant Forest" two-meter lengths. His weight approaching 300 kg. Today it is the largest representative of wild pigs in the world. It is not difficult to guess what emotions experienced team of researchers led by Rafael Reina Hurtado at a meeting with a boar overgrown.

Not gourmets

It is believed that wild boars are not too finicky eating habits, and this despite the fact that their sense of smell is well developed (much better vision and hearing). According to some reports, they can smell at a distance of 5-7 km, as well as catch the "tasty" fragrance at 25 meters depth.

A team of scientists from Illinois, Wageningen and the University of Edinburgh believe that pigs have a unique olfactory genes that allow them to "lenient" approach to the selection menu. They are not afraid of a high content of salt or a repulsive odor. Especially it is a lower content of genes that form the taste receptors that respond, in particular, a bitter foods.

Closer than you think

Those scientists, by the way, carried out studies aimed at clarifying the genetic dependence of boars and humans. Results stunned: 112 combination was found, with which the protein in the body boars comprises the same amino acid which is involved in the development of human diseases such as obesity, diabetes, dyslexia, as well as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The scientists plan to continue our work using a boar as a valuable biomedical model.

Sedin in his beard ...

Not so long ago in the western journal "Physiological and Biochemical Zoology" published the results of an interesting study. It turned out that the gray hair in wild boars indicates excellent health animal, while the owners have a reddish skin in your body longer damaged cells.

According to scientists, the red pigment has a negative effect on the cells using an anti-oxidant, which is not directed at the destruction of harmful free radicals in the body of the animal. Thus, it was found that among men owners of red hair have a higher risk of cancer than blondes or brunettes.
According to one of the study's authors Ismail Galvan, wild boar and man have "the same type of melanin", which means, the study of the gray-haired pigs may shed light on the problem graying in humans. However, if the gray boar indicates health, a person is not so simple. Scientists can not yet understand why gray hair appear in some cases, when people are in the prime of life, and in others - after cellular stress.

Do not rattle!

Rattlesnakes in Texas ceased to publish characteristic sounds. This could be overlooked, if not an increased risk for a person who has lost the ability to retire when he heard the crackle recognizable. The search for the causes brought to the boars, some researchers believe that rattlesnakes have stopped making sounds, so as not to attract wild pigs, who are eager to regale "noisy worms».

However, Dr. Dale Rollins, representing hunting and pastoral community in west Texas, defended the wild pigs: how could their recent invasion force of snakes, who "thundered" for hundreds of thousands of years to change behavior? Do not see the connection between the blocks and the silence of snakes and a certified wildlife biologist Chip Rutver. He is convinced that the boar would prefer to avoid a meeting with the snake, which "will not rattle or rattle when and where she likes, regardless of the presence of wild boars near».

Dodgy hell

In the United States, the damage from the activities of feral pigs exceeds half a billion dollars annually, so it is not surprising that people again and again looking for ways to keep their property and crops. One of the most effective is luring wild boar in a pen using a variety of baits.

The American researcher Tyler Campbell suggested that the most attractive for pigs are biting odor with the scent of strawberries. Such bait today offer to buy US farmers supermarkets, but they prefer to use corn brew, pouring it into the tub and leaving pens.
However, the main problem remains - boars enough cunning to fall twice in the same trap. Expert in wild pigs from the University of Florida, Ken Jolie sure that pigs learn quickly to avoid the temptation to eat "thoughtful" left dinner and almost always able to get out of the trap. They are easily peremahival through meter fences and quickly dig saps carried away from danger with a speed of 50 kilometers per hour.

Battle: wild boars & Shark

The bloodthirsty battle for the murder of people wild boar, according to statistics, win over Sharks: 12 deaths against 10. An expert from the National Laboratory of Savannah River Jack Meyer examines cases of wild boar attacks on humans. Its archives contain the facts about 665 victims around the world.

According to his report at the conference Clemson University, from 2003 to 2012 an average of attacks of wild pigs a year were dying of 4 people. The saddest statistics belongs to the United States (24%), followed by India (19%) and Papua New Guinea (6%), closes the top five England and Germany (5% of cases). The first fatal case in 2014 was recorded in southern Turkey, where 17-year-old shepherd was killed by a wild boar. Maier also drew attention to the fact that sometimes the boar can partially and fully devour the mortally wounded man.